SCOTLAND Under-20s head coach Kenny Murray has announced his 34-man squad, consisting of 19 forwards and 15 backs, for the upcoming 2023 Under-20 Six Nations campaign, which kick-off against England at Twickenham Stoop a week today [Friday].
Seven players return from last season, while 10 have moved up from the Scotland Under-18 squad which performed well at the 2022 Six Nations Festival in France last year. There are 27 players who have come through the Scottish system, and seven from elsewhere (England and Wales).
16 of the players have played Super6, accumulating 81 appearances, which averages out at just over five games each. Nine are attached to Premiership clubs, and three to National One clubs.
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Back-row Liam McConnell and centre Duncan Munn, both of Boroughmuir Bears, will co-captain the side.
“We had a tough campaign last year although that gave a number of our players the experience of a high-pressure international playing environment,” said Murray. “I feel pleased about our preparations as we head into the Under-20 2023 Six Nations.
“We’ve been able to name a strong squad today although there are a number of players still to return from injury who may be added to the squad over the course of the Championship.
“Over the past year in the role I’ve been able to build strong relationships with the players, and a new coaching group, as we develop them into not only great rugby players but great people too.
“I have been impressed by the players commitment to their craft across the course of the programme and I’m looking forward to what will be an exciting campaign ahead.”
- All of Scotland’s U20 Six Nations matches will be available to watch live in the UK on BBC iPlayer.
- Tickets for the three home matches at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow are available HERE.
Scotland Squad for 2022 Under-20 Six Nations –
Forwards
- Max Surry (Cardiff Met University)
- Craig Davidson (Watsonians RFC)
- Moby Ogunlaja (Glasgow Hawks)
- Callum Norrie* (Stirling Wolves/Glasgow Warriors)
- Robbie Deans* (Watsonians/Edinburgh Rugby)
- Eben Cairns** (Glasgow Hawks)
- Elliot Young (Exeter Chiefs/Exeter University)
- Corey Tait** (Boroughmuir Bears)
- Jerry Blyth-Lafferty** (Boroughmuir Bears)
- Harris McLeod* (Stirling Wolves/Glasgow Warriors)
- Ruairaidh Hart** (Glasgow Hawks)
- Eddie Erskine (Bath Rugby/Bath University)
- Jake Parkinson (Ealing Trailfinders/Brunel University)
- Rudi Brown* (Southern Knights/Edinburgh Rugby)
- Sam Derrick** (Southern Knights)
- Jonny Morris** (GHA RFC)
- Liam McConnell* (Boroughmuir Bears/Edinburgh Rugby)
- Ewan Guy (Cardiff Met University)
- Johnny Rutherford** (Currie Chieftains)
Backs
- Ben Afshar* (Ayrshire Bulls/Glasgow Warriors)
- Finlay Burgess* (Stirling Wolves/Glasgow Warriors)
- Charlie Clare (Harlequins/Surrey University)
- Richie Simpson (Ayrshire Bulls)
- Harris Rutherford** (Gala RFC)
- Kerr Yule** (Glasgow Hawks)
- Duncan Munn* (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors)
- Murray Wilson** (Gala RFC)
- Geordie Gwynn (Ealing Trailfinders/Brunel University)
- Findlay Thomson** (Musselburgh RFC)
- Amena Caqusau** (GHA RFC)
- William Robinson (Caldy RFC)
- Logan Jarvie* (Stirling Wolves/Glasgow Warriors)
- Dan King** (Heriot’s Rugby)
- Ben Evans* (Heriot’s Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby)
*FOSROC Scottish Rugby Contracted Academy Player
**FOSROC Scottish Rugby Regional Academy Player
Connor Boyle signs on for at least two-more years with Edinburgh
@Joe Have watched a few 18 year olds turn in impressively consistent performances in the Premiership this season.
@Gibby It does appear that they don’t select outside of the academy set-up, even if non-academy players are performing better than academy players. Not sure if accurate, but was told some of the exiles have opted not to play for Scotland (possibly dual qualified and hoping to make into other National squads).
Rudi Brown has the potential to be a huge ball carrier for this team, assuming the front 5 can provide a solid platform.
Fingers, and toes, crossed for a more uplifting campaign than the last 2 seasons.
Delighted to see Harris Rutherford in there as I remember watching him for Borders U16 and thinking that he looked like he had all the time in the world and was completely unhurried in his passing game from 10. I thought he was perhaps a little slight, and that playing in National 1 for Gala might count against him, but there is no doubt by staying with Gala he has had a lot more 1st XV playing time than any other stand off in this age grade. Hopefully he will flourish in the step up.
Exciting that Kerr Yule is in there when he is still eligible for Under 18 and both Ogunluja and Cairns have impressed me in their appearances for Hawks; I assumed with Norrie and Deans ahead of them they wouldn’t get selected but they certainly both have significant potential.
Good squad….with a significant number of players, presumably injured at present, still to come in and hopefully all available for the Trophy in the Summer
Squad looks light on cover for wing/fullback positions.
I know there are a couple out injured, but some surprising omissions too.
Other 10’s not involved , every bit as talented as Harris Rutherford but overlooked or not in the Academy ( or an exile) ….. No doubt that getting game time at Gala this season has helped his profile albeit he has only just broken into Gala 1st XV this season. Harris Rutherford has some occasional fancy touches and catches the eye because of this but is very inconsistent , particularly when under pressure or when team on back foot (which will be basically all the time in this U20 campaign) . At this level that inconsistency will be punished. Main reason for his selection will be staying in an Academy process which gives these players a distinct advantage over others.
David McAdam preliminary selection well wide of the mark which is just as well otherwise it would be a team of exiles , many of whom have never set foot in Scotland. Looked like he had gone through wilkipedia and picked all players with a Scottish granny from any division of the English club system …..
Realistically the backs selection is lightweight and is not as strong as last years group which is concerning , forwards have a few decent players at S6 level but little depth and this competition will be a higher level. I fear for another very difficult 6 nations…..
An inconsistent under 20 year old? Who would have thought it!