Head coach Andy Robinson has named four uncapped players in a 40-strong provisional Scotland squad for the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand this autumn.
The quartet – Glasgow forwards Robert Harley, 20, and 25-year-old Ryan Grant; Edinburgh back-row forward David Denton, 21; and 23-year-old Bath full-back Jack Cuthbert – are among 19 players who would be experiencing world rugby’s pinnacle competition for the first time. Full biographies of the squad are available by following this link to the Scottish Rugby website:
 
 
In total ten players will require to be trimmed from the provisional squad when the final 30 are named after Scotland’s EMC Tests against Ireland and Italy in August.
Robinson declared: “I’m pleased with the squad.  There’s a good blend of the experienced, the battle-hardened and up and coming talent.
“The task that lies ahead for these players now is to be at the very peak of their powers in order to do themselves, their families, friends and country proud in New Zealand in September and October.
“Scotland have always qualified from the pool stages to reach the quarter-finals at the six previous Rugby World Cup tournaments and that has to be our first target this autumn.”
Scotland are drawn in a pool alongside Romania, Georgia, Argentina and England.
Home-based Scotland players will begin their Rugby World Cup training camp on Monday 20 June.   Robinson explained: “All of our players will be on individual development programmes aimed at improving them as rugby players through a combination of fitness, strength and conditioning, led by Neill Potts and his team, and skills coaching.
“Amicable discussions are continuing with Exile players who are at PRL clubs in England in order that they will be able to join the training camp as soon as possible thereafter.”
Among those firmly in the “experienced” camp is Scotland’s only male cap centurion, Chris Paterson.  Should he make the final cut he would be on his way to his fourth Rugby World Cup competition, a landmark for a Scot. 
Scotland provisional squad for the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011:
Backs – Joe Ansbro* (Northampton Saints); Mike Blair, Ben Cairns* (both Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Cuthbert* (Bath), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Nick De Luca* (Edinburgh), Max Evans* (Glasgow Warriors), Ruaridh Jackson* (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw* (Edinburgh), Rory Lamont (Toulon), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Graeme Morrison* (Glasgow Warriors), Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais), Nikki Walker (Ospreys).
Forwards – John Barclay, John Beattie* (both Glasgow Warriors), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross*, David Denton* (both Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Ryan Grant*, Richie Gray*, Dougie Hall (all Glasgow Warriors), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Robert Harley* (Glasgow Warriors), Nathan Hines (Leinster), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock* (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Moray Low* (Glasgow Warriors), Euan Murray

This article was posted on 10-May-2011, 13:29 by Hugh Barrow.