Scotland have named their 28-man squad for the World Rugby U20 Championship in Manchester this June.
The young Scots will face Australia, England, and Italy in their group before the semi finals and finals stages.
The group will head into the tournament with a great deal of excitement, having beaten both England and Italy in the recent U20 RBS 6 Nations campaign, a campaign that saw a great deal of praise sent the way of the squad, 23 of whom are also in this World Championship squad.
Coming in alongside those 23 are Currie due Matt McPhillips, centre, and wing/full back, Cameron Gray.
Lewis Wynne, the Stirling County back row, returns to the squad after missing the RBS 6 Nations due to injury. Wynne was a part of last year’s World Championship squad, as was former Sedbergh prop, now at Melrose, Dan Elkington, who also missed the 6 Nations due to injury.
They are two of 13 in the squad who were part of last year’s squad, who finished eighth in the tournament, while Elkington is one of a number of Exiles/former Exiles in the squad.
There are two further Exiles in the Prop department, Leeds Beckett Unversity’s Callum Sheldon and Bishop Burton College’s George Thornton. Harlequins’ Robbie Nairn is included in the back three, with Northampton Saints’ Rory Hutchinson in the centres, as well as Bath’s former Millfield School fly half Adam Hastings included as well.
Hastings missed much of the 6 Nations due to 1st XV commitments with Bath, as did the likes of Edinburgh back row Jamie Ritchie and his clubmate and full back, Blair Kinghorn. Zander Fagerson of Glasgow Warriors was meanwhile absent for much of the tournament as he was with the Scotland senior squad, but will be part of the U20 set up for the World Championships.
The squad is captained by second row Scott Cummings, who also captained them during the 6 Nations, Cummings will join Fagerson as a professional at Glasgow next season.
The squad travels on Friday to Font Romeu in France for a week of Warm weather and high altitude training, the highlight of which will be a warm up game against France U20.
Speaking at the squad announcement to www.sru.org.uk , Head Coach John Dalziel said:
“We’ve selected a group which contains a lot of experience, but have also added a fresh dimension with some young and exciting talents who have worked hard and fully deserve their shot. There was a real buzz around this group during the Six Nations, both internally and externally. The squad was hungry for success, and we want to maintain that drive and focus in the World Championship.
“We are confident that this group can perform and win in a high pressure environment. The majority of players are used to a professional rugby environment which gives us a solid base to build from, and limits the transition period into our set-up.”
“The extra preparation will put us in a good place going into what will be an exciting tournament. We know what to expect in the pool stages, and that is three physical encounters, but we’re looking forward to soaking up the challenge.”
Scotland World Rugby U20 Championship Squad:
Props
Dan Elkington (Melrose)
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors)
Murray McCallum (Heriot’s)
Callum Sheldon (Leeds Beckett University)
George Thornton (Bishop Burton College)
Hookers
Lewis Anderson (Ayr)
Jake Kerr (Boroughmuir)
Locks
Stephen Ainslie (Currie)
Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors, captain)
Andrew Davidson (Glasgow Hawks)
Callum Hunter-Hill (Stirling County)
Back-rows
Scott Burnside (Boroughmuir)
Ally Miller (Melrose)
Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby)
Matt Smith (Glasgow Hawks)
Lewis Wynne (Stirling County)
Half-backs
Hugh Fraser (Heriot’s)
Adam Hastings (Bath Rugby)
Charlie Shiel (Currie)
Centres
Tom Galbraith (Melrose)
Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints)
Matt McPhillips (Currie)
George Taylor (Melrose)
Back-three
Darcy Graham (Hawick)
Cameron Gray (Currie)
Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby)
Robbie Nairn (Harlequins)
Ben Robbins (Currie)
