Academy's former Hawk Forrest switches to centre role


THE SCOTSMAN REVEALS
By David Ferguson
SCOTT Forrest has been switched from the back row to centre as the Scottish academy coaches strive to develop strength in the positions in which Scotland is struggling for depth.
The Scotland sevens cap was a leading figure on the IRB sevens circuit last season and has been knocking hard on the door of the Edinburgh and Glasgow professional teams. He has not yet secured a full-time contract, but is a key member of the SRU's nADVERTISEMENTational academy system and feels his best option is a move from the back row, an area in which Scotland is blessed with talent, to the midfield.

He said: "The coaches felt that I had something to offer at centre and I'm keen to make the switch and see how it goes. It is very tough to get anywhere in the back row at the moment because we seem to have so many players there, but I've enjoyed training in the centre and it will be an exciting new challenge."

The SRU yesterday announced the national academy inductees for the 2008-9 season, covering 23 centrally contracted at Murrayfield and another 30 attached to six area institutes of sport across Scotland, but all will have programmes tailored to fit in with high school, higher or further education commitments, or other work. They will also spend Mondays and Tuesdays with the pro teams in an effort to create a closer links with Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The main group features four centres, three each of stand-offs, full-backs, locks, back rows and props, two hookers and one winger and a scrum-half. Most of the players are also attached to top clubs, with Alex Dunbar, the former Annan centre, having joined Selkirk to step up his development.

The bulk of this year's academy is made up of Edinburgh and Glasgow talents with four from Caledonia and three from Borders clubs, and London Scottish operating an academy for exiles youngsters.

Stephen Gemmell, the SRU's national academy manager, said:

"All of the academy players will be involved to some extent with club or school rugby, and have opportunities to play that include the club game, pro-teams games, back-up games, age-grade internationals and Scotland 7s."

This article was originally posted on 1-Aug-2008, 07:22 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 1-Aug-2008, 19:48.