FOUR UNCAPPED PLAYERS NAMED IN SCOTLAND SQUAD
Posted: 10/Jan/07
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Scotland have listed four uncapped players in their squad for training at Murrayfield next week as preparations for the RBS 6 Nations Championship intensify.

Prop Alasdair Dickinson, flanker John Barclay, full-back Calum MacRae (pictured) and full-back/centre Robbie Kydd are named today by Frank Hadden in a 33-strong squad, which will assemble next Monday and Tuesday.

The squad also features three wingers who were not involved during the Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Tests – Simon Danielli, Rory Lamont and Nikki Walker – albeit the two last-named players did perform for Scotland A against their Australian counterparts in Perth.

Scotland coach Frank Hadden said: “I’m very pleased with the competition for places on the wing and in our back three in general. We’ve some top-class options available to us there when you consider Sean Lamont, Simon Webster, Hugo Southwell and Chris Paterson were all in that selection mix during the Autumn Tests.

“Now Rory and Simon are coming back from injury and along with Nikki all are going extremely well and have justified their call-up.”

Hadden is also continuing to monitor closely the form of Glasgow Warriors 21-year-old winger Thom Evans, who is to be included in the Scotland sevens squad for the next tournament in the IRB series – on 2 and 3 February at the Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand.

Two forwards who missed the Autumn Tests through injury – Llanelli lock Scott MacLeod and Glasgow Warriors openside flanker Donnie Macfadyen – also return.

Eight injured players have also been invited to next week’s camp and of those Hadden is optimistic that Scott Lawson, Chris Cusiter, Ali Hogg and Simon Webster may be able to take some part.

Hadden added: “Though the injury list is extensive, Jason White is currently our only player who we would describe as long-term injured.”

Scotland squad (sponsor The Famous Grouse) for training at Murrayfield on 15 and 16 January

Backs: Simon Danielli (Border Reivers), Rob Dewey, Marcus Di Rollo and Phil Godman (all Edinburgh Rugby), Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), Robbie Kydd (Northampton Saints), Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Northampton Saints), Rory Lawson (Gloucester Rugby)*, Calum MacRae (Border Reivers)*, Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby), Sam Pinder (Glasgow Warriors), Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh Rugby), Nikki Walker (Neath Swansea Ospreys)

Forwards: John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors)*, Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors)*, Kelly Brown (Border Reivers)*, David Callam (Edinburgh Rugby)*, Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby)*, Bruce Douglas (Border Reivers), Ross Ford (Border Reivers)*, Dougie Hall (Edinburgh Rugby), James Hamilton (Leicester Tigers), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors)*, Gavin Kerr (Border Reivers), Scott MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets), Donnie Macfadyen (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Murray (Edinburgh Rugby), Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors)*, Alasdair Strokosch (Edinburgh Rugby)*, Simon Taylor (Edinburgh Rugby)

This article was posted on 10-Jan-2007, 14:38 by Hugh Barrow.