Images courtesy of Scottish Rugby/SNS Group
YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE have signed Hawick and Scotland club international hooker Ross Graham on a two year contract after being identified by head coach Bryan Redpath and forwards coach Dave Baldwin as a player with outstanding potential.
A stage three player in the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy set-up this season, Graham appeared in all five of Scotland under-20 games in the 2015 Six Nations, starting in the number two shirt for three of those five matches. He was also a member of the squad which competed in the Junior World Cup in 2015, starting in the fifth place play-off against Australia.
He came off the bench for Edinburgh A when they took on their Glasgow Warriors counterparts at Broadwood Stadium back in November – but has decided to try his hand south of the Border after finding his route into the Edinburgh set-up blocked by Ross Ford, Stuart McInally, Neil Cochrane and George Turner. Elite Development Player Jake Kerr, who is now back from long-term injury, is also highly rated by capital coach Alan Solomons.
Glasgow are also well covered at hooker, with former All Black Corey Flynn arriving in the summer to compete against Fraser Brown, Pat MacArthur and James Malcolm for the number two jersey next season – although it was confirmed yesterday that three more hookers will leave the club at the end of the current campaign in the shape of Kevin Bryce [going to Edinburgh as a tight-head prop], Fergus Scott and Shalva Mamukashvili.
“Ross is a young man from Hawick who has been playing some tough rugby up there in the Scottish leagues. That league is tough for a front rower. He has a small stature but has the ambition and drive to test himself. He is a project for us but he is someone we feel has real potential that we can develop and nurture here at Yorkshire Carnegie,” said Redpath.
“He comes into our environment with a point to prove having missed out on the Pro 12 teams and I am sure he will kick on in the next few years with us. ”
“My brother coaches in Scotland and has coached against him, and I have also spoken to George Graham about him, as he has seen Ross whilst coaching at Gala, and he says he is someone who could thrive in a full time environment.”
“I am pleased he is committed to us. I know a lot of young players in Scotland want to stay north of the border and be involved at Glasgow and Edinburgh but there are only so many opportunities and I admire Ross’ ambition and drive to come down to England and test himself,” he added.