Scotland Under-20 head coach Eamon John today named his 26-strong squad for the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina, which opens with a trio of southern-hemisphere opposition.
The young Scots side will face 2009 semi-finalists Australia and South Africa before taking on Tonga in a repeat of the side's 28-25 ninth-place playoff victory over the South-Sea Islanders in last season's championship.
Having already amassed 15 under-20 caps from two 6 Nations and last season's world championships, age-grade stalwart, Stuart McInally, retains the captaincy.
McInally - who recently signed for Edinburgh Rugby - is joined by a further five players who have the benefit of experiencing last year's world championship in Japan: Alex Dunbar, Tom Brown, Grant Gilchrist, Robert Harley and Alun Walker, while all but five of the remaining party featured in the 2010 6 Nations.
New additions include Michael Tait, son of former Scotland and British Lion, Alan Tait, who returns to the under-20s having missed the 6 Nations with a foot injury.
Anthony Kent, Adam Fedorciow and Russell Weir have been called up from the Exiles programme while lock Robert McAlpine makes the step up from the under-19 side.
John said: "Since the 6 Nations we've seen some players develop through the age-grade and into the professional environment which is only good for the game in Scotland so, in relation to individuals coming through, it's been really pleasing.
"But what we must take on board are the serious lessons learned on how to compete with the best teams and we're certainly going to have to do that going into the World Cup.
"To play five test matches in 17 days, with a four day turnaround between each day is physically and mentally demanding so recovery is really important for us. We have to be accurate and specific about what we need to get right for our performance.
"We have focussed on moving our game forward - while being conscious of the teams we're playing - to be a position to offer different options for different games.
"Not every player gets the opportunity to go to a World Cup of any kind so there's a real prestige from being involved and there's a real excitement about the team - as there should be.
"The pools probably don't get much tougher than ours. It's very tough and very demanding but that's what it's about - we've got to see which players in our system can go and compete at a world level."
Scotland under-20 IRB Junior World Champions squad
Forwards
David Denton (Edinburgh Accies)*, Michael Fedo (Watsonians), Adam Fedorciow (University of Bath), Grant Gilchrist (Stirling County)*, Robert Harley (West of Scotland)*, George Hunter (Glasgow Hawks), Anthony Kent (London Scottish), Nicky Little (Hawick)*, Robert McAlpine (West of Scotland)**, Michael Maltman (Heriot's)**, Stuart McInally (Watsonians)*, Colin Philips (Stewart's Melville)**, Calum Stidston-Nott (London Scottish), Alun Walker (Currie)
Backs
Alex Black (Leeds Carnegie), Tom Brown (Edinburgh Accies)*, Alex Dunbar (Selkirk)*, Dougie Fife (Currie)**
Oliver Grove (Worcester Warriors), James Johnstone (Currie)*, Jonny Kennedy (Sale Sharks), Callum MacBurnie (Moseley), Matthew Scott (Currie)**, Michael Tait (Newcastle Falcons), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Hawks)*, Russell Weir (Loughborough Students)
* Denotes a member of the Scottish National Contracted Academy
** Denotes a member of the Scottish Rugby National Academy supported by the Scottish Institute of Sport
SCOTLAND UNDER-20 SCHEDULE
Training camps
Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 May
Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 May
• Team depart from Edinburgh on Sunday 29 May
• Team arrive back in Edinburgh on Wednesday 23 June
IRB JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POOLS
Pool A: New Zealand (holders), Wales, Samoa and Fiji
Pool B: England, France, Ireland and Argentina
Pool C: South Africa, Australia, Scotland and Tonga
Saturday 5 June - Australia v Scotland, Estadio CA Colon, Santa Fe
Wednesday 9 June - South Africa v Scotland, Estadio CA Colon, Santa Fe
Sunday 13 June - Scotland v Tonga, Club Atletico Estudiantes, Parana
* At the end of the Pool phase, the Pool winners will be ranked 1 - 3 in terms of the number of points earned (see criteria of resolutions in the Terms of Participation). The same will be done for the runners -up, 3rd and 4th.
MATCH DAY 4: THURSDAY 17 JUNE**
2nd fourth v 3rd fourth, Parana
3rd third v best fourth, Parana
3rd runner-up v best third, Santa Fe
2nd runner-up v 2nd third, Santa Fe
2nd winner v 3rd winner, Rosario
Best winner v best runner-up, Rosario
MATCH DAY 5: MONDAY 21 JUNE**
Winner Match 19 v Winner Match 20, Parana
Loser Match 19 v Loser Match 20, Parana
Loser Match 21 v Loser Match 22, Santa Fe
Winner Match 21 v Winner Match 22, Santa Fe
Loser Match 23 v Loser Match 24, Rosario
Winner Match 23 v Winner Match 24, Rosario

This article was posted on 7-May-2010, 13:15 by Hugh Barrow.