SCOTT WIGHT has named a 35-man Scotland Club XV training squad ahead of two fixtures against their Irish counterparts. at the end of January and the start of February.
All 10 Premiership club is represented in the group of 20 forwards and 15 backs, with four players –Shawn Muir (Hawick), Gary Strain (Glasgow Hawks), Gregor Hunter and Fergus Scott (both Currie Chieftains) – returning to the squad from last year.
The squad took part in a training session before Christmas and will have a series of opportunities in the coming weeks to prepare before hosting Ireland at Netherdale on Friday 31st January and travelling away to play the return fixture in Donnybrook, Dublin, on Friday 7th February.
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“It was really hard to narrow the group down to the 35 players that were selected,” said Wight. “There have been a number of players who have impressed throughout the Tennent’s Premiership this season, so there were some tough decisions to be made in key areas.
“We feel we have an excellent balance in the squad and that was evident in the first training session. The hard work starts now for everyone as we head into the first game against Ireland at Netherdale in a few weeks’ time.”
The squad will be looking to win back the Dalriada Cup from holders Ireland, with the winner decided by the aggregate score over the two matches.
SCOTLAND CLUB XV TRAINING SQUAD –
Forwards: Calvin Henderson (Marr), Craig Owenson (Musselburgh), Ewan Bulger (Marr), Ewan MacDougall (Selkirk), Fergus Scott (Currie Chieftains), Fraser Christie (Glasgow Hawks), Gary Strain (Glasgow Hawks), Graeme Carson (Currie Chieftains), Gregor Law (Jed-Forest), James Bett (Selkirk), Jamie Sole (Edinburgh Accies), Matty Carryer (Hawick), Michael Vernel (Currie Chieftains), Nat Coe (Aberdeen Grammar), Ollie Rossi (Marr), Rhys Davies (Currie Chieftains), Robin Cessford (Aberdeen Grammar), Shawn Muir (Hawick), Wallace Nelson (Currie Chieftains), William Farquhar (Marr).
Backs: Aaron McColm (Selkirk), Andrew Mitchell (Hawick), Calum Young (Jed-Forest), Colin Sturgeon (Marr), Conor Bickerstaff (Marr), Scott Bickerstaff (Marr), Grant Mollison (GHA), Greg Montgomery (Marr), Gregor Christie (Currie Chieftains), Gregor Hunter (Currie Chieftains), Jack Preston (Marr), Patrick Boyer (Glasgow Hawks), Richard Mill (Edinburgh Accies), Ryan Cottrell (Selkirk), Steven Hamilton (Currie Chieftains).
Scotland Club XV Fixtures –
Friday 31 January: Scotland Club XV Vs Ireland Club; Netherdale, Galashiels (kick-off 7.30pm)
Friday 7 February: Ireland Club Vs Scotland Club XV; Energia Park, Donnybrook, Dublin. (kick-off 5:45pm)
Why no Super6 ? Idiotic that they are not in the mix ! how on earth are they going to pick the squad next year when there will be an even bigger mix-up of teams up & down !! Leinster & other districts will be in the Irish mix ……..
I take it that all fos-roc players are now ineligible being semi-oros ? That maybe gives our Irish cousins a bit of an advantage this year.
I meant super6 players not Fosroc.