SCOTLAND caps Damien Hoyland and Murray McCallum (both returning from ankle injuries), and Fijian international Mesulame Kunavula, will provide some experience to Edinburgh’s ‘A’ team for tomorrow afternoon’s match against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun.
Meanwhile, a raft of academy prospects will also have a chance to get some meaningful game time under their belts, with Sam Grahamslaw, Ben Muncaster, Roan Frostwick, Nathan Chamberlain, Matthew Currie, Nathan Sweeney and Connor Boyle (as captain) all named in the starting XV.
“This match-up will give our Academy players vital experience at senior level, while also allowing us the chance to interrogate the depth of our squad across the board, with options for game time so limited in the current circumstances,” said head coach Richard Cockerill.
Warriors are not naming a team and are expected to treat the game as an opportunity to rotate an extended squad in and out of the action.
Edinburgh Rugby A v Glasgow Warriors A @ Scotstoun Stadium on Thursday 4 February (kick-off 1pm): Damien Hoyland; Nathan Sweeney, Matthew Currie, Matt Gordon, Alec Coombes; Nathan Chamberlain, Roan Frostwick; Sam Grahamslaw, Sam Kitchen, Murray McCallum, Mesulame Kunavula, Marshall Sykes, Ally Miller, Connor Boyle (c), Ben Muncaster. Subs: Patrick Harrison, Shaun Gunn, Cole Lamberton, Angus Williams, Rory Darge, Charlie Shiel, Charlie Savala, Cameron Scott, Scott King, Sam Pecqueur.
This should be a weekly event until the Super Six starts again, with the usual limits on subsitutes, to give the young players serious game time. Nathan Chamberlain must be wishing he had stayed in England given how little rugby he has had
An excellent initiative, game time at last for many of these guys.