Scotland have named their Men’s U18 squad for a development camp in Ireland running from Saturday 3rd August to Friday 9th.
Head Coach Ross Miller has selected a group of 32, who will have training days with development squads from Ireland, Italy, and Wales at the prestigious Clongowes Wood College. On the final day of the camp, the groups will all play 35-minute conditioned games against one another at the IRFU High Performance Centre.
The squad consists of 18 forwards and 14 backs. Loretto School have a remarkable three players in the squad, Christian Lindsay, Robbie Smith, and Struan Talac, while England’s Clifton College have two represented in the squad, Teddy Smith-Milne and last year’s Fettes College skipper Glen Gammell, who makes the move to Clifton this summer.
Other English schools represented are Seaford College, through Will May, Malvern College, through Monty Oliver, and Sedbergh, through the exciting Harry Hawkins.
Those from Scottish schools include George Watson’s College’s Michael McAndrew, George Heriot’s Henry Kesterton, Stewart’s Melville’s Ruaridh Cavin, and Merchiston Castle’s Henry Widdowson.
Starthallan see How of Fife’s Adam Williamson selected, likewise Dollar Academy through Perthshire RFC’s Max Garry. Kelvinside Academy’s Gregot Johnston is one of an impressive four players from GHA RFC, with Lloyd Moncrieff, Ben MacDougall, and Jamie Henderson also selected.
Stirling County also have multiple representatives, Daniel Casserly and Layton Bryce, likewise Boroughmuir through Harry Jackaman and Will Lockhart.
Meanwhile Dnaiel Shellard represents Garioch, with Lenzie’s Harvey Preston selected and Kelso’s Jack Utterson. Ellon see Jackson Rennie selected, with Kilmarnock colours being represented by Logan Hendrie, Matthew Herbert from Aberdeen Wanderers is also selected as is William Kenny of Mackie and Adam McKenzie of Huntley. The superb Currie see Ben McDonald called up, likewise Rory McHaffie of Peebles.
Speaking to Scotland Rugby, Ross Miller said: “This will be a fantastic camp for both the coaches and the players. The experience that the players get is invaluable. It’s a great concept, one that we want to do more often. They get to experience the week almost like a full-time rugby player, they’ll be engrossed in the rugby environment and exposed to different cultures.”
“The focus is to expose the guys to different training stimulus and stretch their skills under pressure and develop performance behaviours in this environment to support their development and progression into the new season. They’ll be challenged and tested, and supported through that, and it’s great to experience different ways of playing the game and challenge themselves against the best players from different countries.”
“The players have been selected with the help of the summer programmes, and there’s a good representation across the regions. It will be a slightly different group of players that experience this camp and the Six Nations festival in April depending on how their seasons develop, but these guys have a great opportunity this summer.”
Scotland U18 Men’s Squad for Ireland Development Camp:
Forwards
Layton Bryce (Stirling County)
Daniel Casserly (Stirling County)
Logan Hendrie (Kilmarnock)
Matthew Herbert (Aberdeen Wanderers)
Harry Jackaman (Boroughmuir)
William Kenny (Mackie)
Christian Lindsay (Loretto)
Will Lockhart (Boroughmuir)
Will May (Seaford College/Bath)
Michael McAndrew (George Watson’s College)
Lloyd Moncrieff (GHA)
Monty Oliver (Malvern College/Gloucester)
Harvey Preston (Lenzie)
Jackson Rennie (Ellon)
Daniel Shellard (Garioch)
Robbie Smith (Loretto)
Teddy Smith-Milne (Clifton College)
Jack Utterson (Kelso)
Backs
Ruaridh Cavin (Stewart’s Melville College)
Glen Gammell (Clifton College)
Max Garry (Dollar Academy/Perthshire)
Harry Hawkins (Sedbergh)
Jamie Henderson (GHA)
Gregor Johnston (Kelvinside Academy/GHA)
Henry Kesterton (George Heriot’s)
Ben MacDougall (GHA)
Ben McDonald (Currie Chieftains)
Rory McHaffie (Peebles)
Adam McKenzie (Huntly)
Struan Talac (Loretto School)
Henry Widdowson (Merchiston Castle)
Adam Williamson (Strathallan/Howe of Fife)