Scotland U18 have named their 26 man training squad ahead of their forthcoming internationals against England, Ireland, and Romania.

The squad will meet for a training camp on the 7^th and 8^th February, which will finish with a fixture against the Scottish Districts U18s, described by Head Coach Ian Pollock as: “what we consider, currently, to be players on the fringe of the squad”.

There are familiar names in both squads to followers of school rugby south of the border. Sedbergh’s Jack Solman is included in the forward pack along with Malvern College’s George Thornton, Wasps’ Mike Dewar, Alex Craig of Hartpury College, and Newcastle Falcons’ Harry Borthwick.

In the back the division the name that will stand out for many is that of Stowe School stand-off, Gregor Haldane. Dewar’s Wasps teammate Conor Eastgate is also included in the squad.

It is a similar story in the District XV, who will all be looking to press a claim to move into the main U18 squad in the training game on the 8^th. Jamie Ross is rewarded for an unbeaten season with Kirkham Grammar School with a place in the squad.

Haldane’s Stowe teammate, Devante Onojaie, is also included in the District squad, Onojaife’s brother was part of the England U20 squad last year that won the Junior World Championship and both are part of the Northampton Saints academy.

As is Alan Gregory from King’s Gratham, who is also included in the District XVs forward pack.

Pollock was keen to point out the virtues of the Exiles Programme for the U18 squad:

“The Exile Programme has also provided another platform for us to analyse boys who won’t be coming through the Academy system in Scotland. Working with our network – as well as seeing the players perform in the recent game in Bristol – we have had the opportunity to bring some talented players into the fray.”

Scotland U18 v Scotland U18 District Select XV – BT Murrayfield Stadium – Sunday 8^th March, 13.30

Scotland U18 Training Squad:

Forwards

Hamish Bain (George Watson’s College/Portobello)

Harry Borthwick (Berwick/Newcastle Falcons)

Fergus Bradbury (Merchiston Castle School)

Alex Craig (Hartpury College)

Mike Dewar (Wasps)

Matt Fagerson (Strathallan School)

Bruce Flockhart (Strathallan School/Highland)

Andrew Grant-Suttie (Loretto School/North Berwick)

Calum Hunter-Hill (Stewart’s Melville FP)

Adam Nicol (Dunfermline)

Fraser Renwick (Hawick High School/Hawick Wanderers)

Blair Robertson (Kelso Harlequins)

Jack Solman (Sedbergh School)

George Thornton (Malvern College)

Backs

Sean Chapman (Hawick High School/Hawick Wanderers)

Conor Eastgate (Wasps)

Darcy Graham (Hawick High School/Hawick Wanderers)

Gregor Haldane (Stowe School/Northampton Saints)

Grant Huggan (Hawick Wanderers)

Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Academy)

Ross McCann (Royal High School/RHC Cougars)

Saul Melvin-Farr (Edinburgh Academy)

Robbie Nairn (George Watson’s College/Currie)

Craig Pringle (Loretto School/Melrose)

Charlie Shiel (Royal High School/RHC Cougars)

Jamie Troup (Strathallan School)

U18 Scottish District XV:

Forwards

Connor Crawford (Dunfermline)

Luke Crosbie (Currie)

Ross Dunbar (Linlithgow Academy/Stirling County)

Callum Eastwood (George Watson’s College)

Jonny Goldring (George Watson’s College/Boroughmuir)

Tom Gordon (Currie)

Alan Gregory (Kings School/Northampton Saints)

Ralph Johnston (Gosforth High School)

Scott McGinley (Edinburgh Academy/Currie)

Lewis McLean (Strathallan School)

Devante Onjaife (Stowe/Northampton)

Jamie Ross (Sales Shark/Kirkham Grammar School)

Daniel Suddon (Hawick High School/Hawick Wanderers)

Backs

Kyle Brunton (Hawick High School)

Ben Enyon (Strathallan School/Perthshire)

Ally Greig (Stewart’s Melville College)

Josh Henderson (Strathallan School)

Mark New (Strathallan School)

Paul Paxton (Gordon Schools/Ellon)

Andrew Simmers (Glasgow Academy/Glasgow Hawks)

Arthur Sinclair (Dunbar Grammar School/Dunbar)

Bruce Sorbie (Robert Gordon’s College/Aberdeenshire)