Scotland under-20 head coach Eamon John today announced the squad to face Glasgow Warriors’ back-up team at Whitecraigs on Monday 12 January, 2009 (kick-off 2pm, admission is free) and admits the experience will be beneficial to the players.
The match is the first fixture for the squad since gathering together in camp over the Christmas period and John believes it will be a key part of the team’s development.
John said: “I think that the back-up games are going to be very helpful as, on top of giving us the opportunity to play together, it is good preparation for playing against teams with greater physicality, given that there will be a number of professional players involved.
“The benefit of the squad camp has come through being able to hold back-to-back tactical sessions rather than one per week over a four week period.
”We’ve involved the players in the discussions on the style of play we should adopt and agreed collectively based on that meeting.”
John’s team will take on both Glasgow and Edinburgh’s back-up sides as part of their 6 Nations preparations which begin at home against Wales on Friday 6 February.
Seven new faces have been added to last season’s under-19s squad that defeated Italy (32-10) with Fraser Brown, Grant Shiells, James Taylor, Neil Rodger, Henry Pyrgos, Cameron Brown and Grant Anderson all being offered the opportunity to stake a claim for the age-grade side.
Forwards
David Morton (Bridgwater and Albion), Gavin Cameron (Stirling County), Douglas Orr (Haddington), Grant Shiells (Kelso), Fraser Brown (Watsonians), Finlay Gillies (Heriot’s), Ryan McConnell (Peebles), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Nick Campbell (Glasgow Hawks), James Taylor (Loughborough University), Chris Fusaro (Heriot’s), Neil Rodger (Haddington), Tom Drennan (Edinburgh Academicals), Struan Dewar (Heriot’s)
Backs
Peter Jericevich (Glasgow Hawks), Henry Pyrgos (Wimbourne), Cameron Brown (Loughborough University), Andrew White (Glasgow Hawks), Robbie McGowan (Stirling County), Robbie Johnston (Leeds University and Leeds Carnegie), Paul Loudon (Durham University and Edinburgh Accies), Ashleigh McCulloch (Aberdeen Grammar), Grant Anderson (Ayr), Adam McKenzie (Darlington Mowden Park and Northumbria University), Peter Horne (West of Scotland)
SCOTLAND UNDER-20 FIXTURES
Monday 12 January - Scotland under-20 v Glasgow back-up, Whitecraigs (kick-off 2pm)
Monday 19 January - Scotland under-20 v Edinburgh back-up, Lasswade (kick-off

This article was originally posted on 9-Jan-2009, 15:30 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 9-Jan-2009, 15:36.