Scotland have named an experienced side for their opening 2022 U20 Six Nations game, versus England on Friday night.
Kicking off at 8pm at the DAM Health Stadium, Head Coach Kenny Murray has named 11 players in his side with previous Scotland U20 Six Nations experience.
Among them is the skipper, Boroughmuir Bears’ Rhys Tait, the former Sedbergh star. He starts at openside and is joined in the back row by another of last year’s stars, Exeter University’s Ollie Leatherbarrow, the former Kirkham Grammar School number 8.
Elsewhere in the pack there is experience in the second row via Glasgow Warriors’ Max Williamson, while in the front row Durham University loosehead Tom Bantvala and Edinburgh’s Patrick Harrison, a hugely promising player, returns at hooker.
In the backline Glasgow Warriors fly half Christian Townsend, son of Scotland head coach Gregor, is back again at fly half, and has his experience club colleague Michael Gray alongside him at inside centre. Both wings also have prior experience, Glasgow Warriors’ Ross McKnight on the right wing and Newcastle Falcons’ former Sedbergh and England U18 star Ollie Melville on the left.
The uncapped contingent in the starting side are Montpellier full back Robin McClintock, Boroughmuir Bears’ centre Duncan Mann, and Edinburgh scrum half Jed Gelderbloom in the backs. Up front Currie Chieftains tighthead Gregor Scougall, Ealing Trailfinders second row Josh Taylor, and Newcastle Falcons’ Matthew Deehan all make their debuts.
There is experience on the bench too in Edinburgh’s Michael Jones and Glasgow Warriors’ Euan Cunningham, while Gregor Hiddleston, Jake Spurway, Olujare Oguntibeju, Tim Brown, and Ben Evans will all make their debuts, as will Strathallan School’s Callum Norrie, a phenomenal achievement.
Speaking ahead of the game, Scotland U20 Head Coach Kenny Murray said: “The team are in a really good place after working hard over the last few months. I’m really happy with the squad we’ve been able to select, 11 players have played in an international match of this level before, so they know what to expect.”
“It will be a really special night at the DAM Health Stadium on Friday as this group of players get to experience representing their country for the first time on home soil since all 2021 Under-20 Six Nations fixtures were held in Cardiff. A large crowd is expected so it should be a great atmosphere to open our campaign with.”
Scotland U20 XV v England – Friday, 8pm, DAM Health Stadium
15 Robin McClintock (Montpellier, 0 caps), 14 Ross McKnight (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors, 2 caps), 13 Duncan Munn (Boroughmuir Bears, 0 caps), 12 Michael Gray (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors, 4 caps), 11 Ollie Melville (Newcastle University, 4 caps), 10 Christian Townsend (Ayrshire Bulls/Glasgow Warriors, 5 caps), 9 Jed Gelderbloom (Edinburgh Rugby, 0 caps), 1 Tom Banatvala (Durham University, 2 caps), 2 Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh Rugby, 4 caps), 3 Gregor Scougall (Currie Chieftains, 0 caps), 4 Josh Taylor (Ealing Trailfinders, 0 caps), 5 Max Williamson (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors, 5 caps), 6 Matthew Deehan (Newcastle Falcons, 0 caps), 7 Rhys Tait (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors, 5 caps, captain), 8 Ollie Leatherbarrow (Exeter University, 5 caps).
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston (GHA, 0 caps), 17 Michael Jones (Heriot’s Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby, 5 caps), 18 Callum Norrie (Strathallan School, 0 caps), 19 Jake Spurway (Durham University, 0 caps), 20 Olujare Oguntibeju (Ealing Trailfinders, 0 caps), 21 Tim Brown (Glasgow Hawks, 0 caps), 22 Euan Cunningham (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors, 3 caps), 23 Ben Evans (Heriot’s Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby, 0 caps).
