NORTHAMPTON SAINTS back Rory Hutchinson has been added to the Scotland squad for this summer, while Glasgow Warriors No8 Matt Fagerson drops out of the group due to an arm injury.
Fagerson picked up the injury during his club side’s recent Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup victory over Leinster and is expected to be sidelined for up to three months. He will remain under the care of the Glasgow Warriors medical team.
No direct back-five forward replacement for Fagerson will be brought in at this time, however Hutchinson will join the group later this week after completing his medical checkout at Northampton Saints.
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Scotland will convene at Oriam High Performance Centre tomorrow [Tuesday 15th June] to prepare for the England A fixture on Sunday 27 June, with a smaller squad then travelling to Romania and Georgia for the two Test matches Saturdays 10th and 17th July respectively.
“First and foremost, we’re obviously disappointed that Matt will miss out on the Summer fixtures as he’s been an instrumental player for both club and country,” said interim head coach Mike Blair. “We wish him the very best in his recovery.
“However, with good cover in the back-row, coupled with Rory’s [Hutchinson] excellent recent form for Northampton Saints, we saw this as a great opportunity to bring him in and he joins what is an already exciting squad.”
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Thank goodness – what on Earth were they thinking leaving him out in the first place? I watch Northampton every week as part of my regular diet of rugby viewing and cannot comprehend this original oversight. Three tries in the last two games, Hutchinson is on fire. He offers so much more as a passing, kicking game manager in the auxiliary stand-off role, rather than your standard crash ball centre. Scotland will need him to maximise their game options, especially with Redpath side-lined (hopefully not permanently). There is great talent on this tour and we need to get the following capped before the English come cvalling: hooker Ashman (top scorer in the last U20 World Cup with seven tries), Cammy Henderson (at 21 already one of the best locks in the English Premiership and a Scotland first team cert before much longer) and Bailly (did you see that scorching run at the weekend, just about the fastest open side I think I’ve ever watched). If my wish list were to be complete, we might yet nick Fraser Dingwall from under England’s nose – he must realise his prospects are brighter with us – while I’d also find a place on tour for Cammy Hutchison, who already looks the real deal and would benefit from the experience. Gutted for Fagerson, but I would like to see Haining get his chance again at eight. He has stepped in willingly in the past and never let us down. In fact, quite the opposite.
Agree with much of what you’ve said, but Cammy Hutchison? Really? 2 caps of pro rugby and you want to take him on tour? Calm down, I think it’s fair enough to say he’s done enough to get himself game time next season but an international call up? That would be the most meteoric of rises.
I know, it’s a bit out there isn’t it? Perhaps too early but I think the lad has a bright future and might benefit from soaking up atmosphere in the camp and training with more experienced high class players. There are so many exciting young guns breaking through right now and it’s exciting times to be a Scotland rugby supporter.
Fair dos Tavish, agree I might be getting overenthusiastic. But equally I think the boy has real potential. No game time on this occasion, but training with the more experienced players in an international environment would be invaluable experience for the lad. He would learn plenty and put it to good use in the season ahead. A year from now, who knows. Would certainly be a better investment than sending one or two who are approaching the latter stages of their careers and are unlikely to go any further. Progressivism is a wonderful thing and a little more shrewd anticipation would not hurt the Scottish cause. My last comment said much the same, but disappeared. Apologies if it re-emerges.
As an established international, after a very long season, Matt Fagerson will probably benefit from a 3-month rest.
Great to see Hutchinson in the squad. He and Huw Jones would probably be our best attacking combination in the Scotland team.
As an established international, after a very long season, Matt Fagerson will probably benefit from a 3-month rest.
Great to see Hutchinson in the squad. He and Huw Jones would probably be our best attacking combination in the Scotland team.
Are we losing Sam Skinner too? Hard to see him not getting the standard ban. Dickson made a point of saying “no mitigation” when he sent him off so that won’t help. I’d be delighted if Gray and Ritchie were called up to the Lions but it would be ironic if that left the pack underpowered for our own Tests.
number 8 drops out of squad, centre dragged in (who shouldve been there in the first place.
Tom Gordon mean while twiddling his thumbs after being phenomenal all season.
head scratcher for you
Agreed. Tom Gordon feels like the natural replacement for Hamish Watson in the squad. Very similar type of player, abrasive, aggressive and dynamic. Rarely takes a backward step and has a strong defensive game.