John Dalziel has announced his squad for the U20 World Championships to be held in Manchester next month. Scotland face Australia and Italy as well as the hosts in the opening stages. If they can repeat the feats of the junior Six Nations and get 2 wins from 3 we could be in good shape for the future – they beat both Italy and England in that tournament. With a number of the team already playing regular pro rugby and Zander Fagerson a full cap international it’s the strongest age-grade side yet.
There was much debate over whether Cotter might take the likes of the impressive Scott Cummings or the aforementioned Fagerson on the full tour, but thankfully the Under 20s should be at full strength. Although Adam Hastings has been named as the only 10 in the half-backs, there is plenty of cover at 10 sprinkled throughout the squad.
Currie centre Matt McPhillips and teammate wing/full-back Cameron Gray are making their first foray at under-20 level while Dan Elkington (who played in all five games at last year’s World Championship in Italy) and Lewis Wynne return following an injury-enforced Six Nations layoff.
Scotland U20s Squad for Junior World Championships 7th-25th June:
Dan Elkington (Melrose), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Murray McCallum (Heriot’s), Callum Sheldon (Leeds Beckett University), George Thornton (Bishop Burton College)
Lewis Anderson (Ayr), Jake Kerr (Boroughmuir)
Stephen Ainslie (Currie), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors, Captain), Andrew Davidson (Glasgow Hawks), Callum Hunter-Hill (Stirling County)
Scott Burnside (Boroughmuir), Ally Miller (Melrose), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby), Matt Smith (Glasgow Hawks), Lewis Wynne (Stirling County)
Hugh Fraser (Heriot’s), Charlie Shiel (Currie)
Adam Hastings (Bath Rugby)
Tom Galbraith (Melrose), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), Matt McPhillips (Currie), George Taylor (Melrose)
Darcy Graham (Hawick), Cameron Gray (Currie), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby), Robbie Nairn (Harlequins), Ben Robbins (Currie)
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Great that JD has been able to select from the top U20s. Had he had these players available I’m pretty sure we would have beaten Wales away (unlucky anyway).