Scotland have confirmed their U18 squad for the forthcoming U18 5 Nations Festival in Wales.
The tournament starts today with England v Ireland, before Scotland kick off their challenge tomorrow against Wales U18 at St Helen;s, at 14.30.
Scotland will then face Ireland on the 29th, followed by a final game against England on Saturday 2nd April. Scotland have already faced England as part of their preparations for the tournament, losing 39-15, but ought to be in good spirits ahead of the new tournament with a strong squad.
The 26-man squad features a number of Scottish Exiles, including some who will potentially be playing against their schoolmates in the England set up. Three Wellington College players are in the England U18 squad, but Scotland have a Wellington College pupil of their own in Rory McMichael.
Similarly Sedbergh scrum half Charlie Gowling could face his schoolmate Max Davies in the English second row.
Two further Exiles are selected in the Scottish back division, the Bedford School duo of Fraser Strachan and Fraser Dingwall.
The forward pack also includes a couple of Exiles, Uppingham School second row Archie Erskine, and Richard Husih back row Daniel Marek.
Other names that might be familiar to those following the HSBC Rosslyn Park National School 7s last week might be the Dollar Academy trio of Grant Hughes, Callum Cruikshanks, and Euan McLaren, as well as Merchiston Castle’s Stafford MacDowell, all were competing at the national school 7s.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Scotland U18 Head Coach Ally Donaldson said:
“We’ve been working hard preparing for this tournament for the last few months, so there is a lot of excitement within the squad. We have three games down in Wales and each opponent will provide us with a different challenge.”
“The next 10 days will be extremely beneficial to this group of players as they continue their development and we can’t wait for the opening match on Friday.”
Scotland U19 will meanwhile take on Japan Schools this coming Sunday at Meggetland, 13.00.
For full details on the U18 5 Nations Festival, please click here: U18 5 Nations
Scotland U18 Squad
Forwards
Ross Dunbar – Stirling County RFC/Linlithgow Academy
Calum Eastwood – George Watson’s College
Connor Clark – Stirling County RFC/McLaren High School
Euan McLaren – Dollar Academy
Robbie Smith – Ayr RFC/Douglas Ewart High School
Paul Cairncross – Kelvinside Academy/East Kilbride RFC
Jamie Hodgson – Stewart Melville College
Dean Roger – Highland RFC
Archie Erskine – Leicester Tigers/Uppingham School
Fergus Haig – Fettes College
Andrew Horne – Preston Lodge RFC
Callum Cruikshanks – Dollar Academy
Daniel Marek – Richard Huish College/Bath RFC
Jack Bruce – Strathallan School
Backs
Harry Warr – Dollar Academy
Charles Gowling – Sedburgh School/Newcastle Falcons
Grant Hughes – Dollar Academy
Kyle Brunton – Hawick Wanderers
Fraser Strachan – Bedford School/Northampton Saints
Patrick Anderson – Melrose RFC
Fraser Dingwall – Bedford School/Northampton Saints
Cameron Hutchison – George Heriots School/North Berwick RFC
Stafford MacDowell – Merchiston Castle School
Ben Eynon – Strathallan School
Rory McMichael – Wellington College/Harlequins
Ben Appleson – The Edinburgh Academy
Scotland’s U18 5 Nations Festival Fixtures
Wales v Scotland – St Helen’s, 25th March, 14.30
Ireland v Scotland – Caerphilly, 29th March, 17.15
England v Scotland – Caerphilly, 2nd April, 13.30
