THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS

Clubs pull together for Meggetland international
DAVID FERGUSON
A SQUAD of the best club players will pull on the Scotland jersey tonight in what coach Ian Rankin believes represents the kind of club-binding fixture that full internationals once were.

Rankin has taken over the reins from Gary Parker of the Scotland Club International side for their second match, the team having gone down to Ireland in Dublin last year in the inaugural fixture. The Irish have warmed up for the return match, hosted by Boroughmuir RFC tonight, by beating a physical English Counties side and are confident of overcoming the Scots again.

Rankin is hopeful that a big crowd will turn out to back the Scots, insisting: "There is a really good feeling of support around the club game for this team and it would not surprise me at all if Meggetland has 3,000 packed in for the game.

"Having come through a period where everybody seemed to be at war with each other in Scottish rugby, it is very encouraging for me that there is a great pride and togetherness around this club side. I think clubs see this as a chance for them to support their own guys in the international arena, doing their best against Ireland's best, which used to be how we saw the full internationals.

"But, you have to say now people see Simon Taylor or Marcus Di Rollo as Edinburgh players, not Heriot's or Watsonians. It is great for the boys involved in this squad. I took on the job of phoning the boys left out and their reactions hammered home to me how big an honour this was.

"We have a mix of experienced guys and younger boys, but this isn't about development, this is about Scotland winning. These guys are desperate to do that. Our captain Tam McVie said to me that he felt this was the most positive club rugby initiative to come out of the SRU in recent years and he's right.

"I was in Ireland to watch their game with England and there is a real effort going on there to back the club side, because they know the club game has taken a hit and the pro game gets the profile. But every player comes from a club somewhere and they're reminding everyone of that. Hopefully, we can use this match to give our club game a boost too."

Scotland Club XV (v Ireland Club XV at Meggetland, 7pm): J Thompson (Heriot's); M Teague (Heriot's), G Thomson (Dundee HSFP), J Houston (Heriot's), R Couper (Boroughmuir); M Strang (Glasgow Hawks), A McFarlane (Ayr); B McNeil (Hawick), S Lawrie (Watsonians), R Higgins (Melrose), D Kelly (Ayr), A Adam (Currie), T McVie (Heriot's) (capt), B Fisher, A Martyn (both Boroughmuir). Subs: S Burnett (Currie), A Kelly (GHA), J Nicolson (Watsonians), M Cairns (Currie), M Coupar, A Skeen (both Watsonians), C Goodall (Heriot's).

Ireland Club XV: R McCarter (Dungannon); N O'Brien (Clontarf), K Hartigan (Garryowen), G Telford (Dungannon ex Hawks), C Healy (Cork Constitution); A Thompson (Shannon), F O'Loughlin (Clontarf); D O'Connell (Galwegians), K Corrigan (Lansdowne), S Shawe (Ballymena), M O'Connell (Cork Constitution), A Maher (Lansdowne), P Malone (Garryowen) (capt), F Cogan (Cork Constitution), C Hartigan (Buccaneers). Subs: D Varley (Garryowen), S Nolan (Terenure College), S Crawford (Clontarf), O Hennessy (Dungannon), M Bruce (Buccaneers), B Keeshan (Dolphin), A Finn (Shannon).

and from the archive

Ulstermen in under-21 squad


Bradley will take over at Connacht next season
Instonians fly-half Glenn Telford is one of eight Ulster players included in Ireland's under-21 World Cup squad.
Telford, who has now fully recovered from a fractured knee cap sustained 18 months ago, is joined by Tommy Bowe, Nick McClelland and Michael Rainey in the backs.

Up front Harlequins duo Rory Best and Declan Fitzpatrick are joined by Ballymena's Michael McComish and Neil McComb, former Campbell College captain.

The squad will be captained by Leinster's John Lyne who has been offered a senior contract for next season.

Belfast-born Telford missed most of the season following the serious injury which he received while playing for Glasgow Hawks.

An IRFU Academy player, Telford has now returned home to continue his studies at University of Ulster and now plays for Instonians.

Rainey, studying medicine at Glasgow University, is one of three Ulster student exiles in the squad.

Former Ireland captain Michael Bradley will be involving in his last duties as coach before he switches to Connacht in the new season.

Ireland start their World Cup campaign with a tough test against champions South Africa on Friday, 13 June at Iffley Road, Oxford.

This article was originally posted on 9-Mar-2007, 08:09 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 9-Mar-2007, 08:20.