The Academy, which consists of 19 senior and 28 junior players, will be coached by three Academy coaches and supported by two strength and conditioning coaches and two physiotherapists, all of whom are contracted fulltime.

Scottish Rugby’s National Academy Manager, Stephen Gemmell, who will oversee the Academy structure, said: “All of these players have been selected because of previous performances in age-group international, club and school matches along with their potential to progress in the game.

”As an Academy player they will receive programmes and support specific to their individual needs, all of which will give them the best possible chance to enhance their game.”

Comprising of 17 fulltime players and two part-time players, the National Senior Academy will be based for the first time at the home of Scottish Rugby, Murrayfield. This will allow access to the excellent facilities that the stadium has to offer, creating the best environment for the continued rugby development of these talented players.

Working together with Scotland’s two professional teams, Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby, these Senior Academy players will be given opportunities, when appropriate, to experience rugby at professional level.

The 28 Junior Academy players will combine their academic studies with their rugby commitments and receive additional support from the six Area Institutes of Sport: Central, East of Scotland, Grampian, Tayside and Fife, West of Scotland and Highland & Islands.

The support provided by these Area Institutes includes performance lifestyle, strength and conditioning, nutrition, medical, psychology, physiology and video analysis.

Lead Rugby Manager for the Area Institutes of Sport, Michael Cavanagh, added: “The Area Institutes provide a high quality service to these Junior Academy players on a local level, meaning we can give them first-class support in achieving their full potential.”

Throughout the season, Academy players will be eligible to play for their clubs/schools, pro-teams, national age-grade sides and the Scotland 7s squad.

Out-with the National Academy players named today, there are a number of Scottish-qualified players receiving support through Scottish Rugby’s exile programme led by Performance Development Manager Rob Brierley.

National Senior Academy: Ben Addison, Willie Brown, Adrian Duncan, Scott Forrest, Calum Forrester, Roddy Grant, Richard Gray, Graham Hogg, Jamie Hunter, Rory Hutton (part-time), Ruaridh Jackson, Peter Jericevich, Allan Kelly, Chris Kinloch, Pat McArthur, Bruce McNeil, Joe Stafford, Kyle Traynor (part-time), Colin White

National Junior Academy: Ross Aitken, Steven Aitken, Grant Anderson, Fraser Brown, Tom Brown, Kevin Bryce, Tom Bury, Gavin Cameron, Nick Campbell, Struan Dewar, Tom Drennan, Andrew Dymock, Chris Fusaro, Ross Gibson, Finlay Gillies, Robert Harley, Gregor Hunter, Stuart McInally, Richard Mill, Nicky Little, Dougie Orr, Craig Owensen, Gordon Reid, Neil Rodger, Gary Strain, Michael Tait, Andrew White, Steven Wilson

This article was posted on 4-Jul-2007, 14:08 by Hugh Barrow.