SCOTT WIGHT had handed Scotland Club XV debuts to 13 of his starting XV for Friday night’s Dalriada Cup first leg clash against Ireland at Netherdale (7:30pm kick-off). Nine of the 10 Premiership clubs are represented in the squad, with Musselburgh the team to miss out.
One of the returning players is Currie Chieftains hooker Fergus Scott, who has been named as captain of the side, with his front-row colleague Shawn Muir the other two old head. Marr winger Scott Bickerstaff was involved in the Club XV programme two seasons ago, and was a member of the squad which played a warm-up match against the Scotland Under-20s team.
So many new faces was inevitable given the launch of Super6 at the start of this season, which has lifted significant number of the best club players in recent years into the new league, but Wight is confident that he has been able to pick a side which will be competitive in their quest to reclaim the Dalriada Cup, which is played over two legs against the best club players in Ireland. The return fixture will be played at Donnybrook in Dublin on Friday 7th February.
“There were some really tough calls to make as everyone put their hand up for selection during training sessions and showed what they could do,” said Wight. “I believe we have a great balance of youth and experience within the squad to execute the game plan against Ireland on Friday night.”
Scotland Club XV team to face Ireland Club XV on Friday at Netherdale (kick-off 7:30pm) –
15. Grant Mollison (GHA)
14. Scott Bickerstaff (Marr)
13. Conor Bickerstaff (Marr)
12. Colin Sturgeon (Marr)
11. Callum Young (Jed-Forest)
10. Aaron McColm (Selkirk)
9. Gregor Christie (Currie)
1. Shawn Muir (Hawick)
2. Fergus Scott – CAPTAIN (Currie Chieftains)
3. Calvin Henderson (Marr)
4. Mike Vernel (Currie Chieftains)
5. Gregor Law (Jed-Forest)
6. Jamie Sole (Edinburgh Academicals)
7. Wallace Nelson (Currie Chieftains)
8. Ewan MacDougall (Selkirk)
Substitutes
16. Matt Carryer (Hawick)
17. William Farquhar (Marr)
18. Gary Strain (Glasgow Hawks)
19. Robin Cessford (Aberdeen Grammar)
20. Nathaniel Coe (Aberdeen Grammar)
21. Patrick Boyer (Glasgow Hawks)
22. Andrew Mitchell (Hawick)
23. Steven Hamilton (Currie Chieftains)
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