SEAN LINEEN has named a 29-man Scotland Under-20s training squad ahead of the 2020 Six Nations Championship which kicks-off away to Ireland on 31st January with Connor Boyle – who captained the side last season – one of 11 returning players.
There are several players selected through the Scottish Qualified [Scottish Exiles] programme including back-row Archie Smeaton of Yorkshire Carnegie/Cambridge University, loose-head prop Alex Maxwell of Stourbridge RFC and stand-off Callum Grieve of Newcastle University, plus stand-off Nathan Chamberlain of Hartpury College/Bristol Bears and hooker Ewan Ashman of Sale Sharks (currently on loan at Edinburgh) who are both returning for their second campaigns.
Biggar’s Jamie Campbell is also called up after being part of the U18 Scotland side that defeated Ireland 42-40 in last year’s Six Nations campaign.
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“We have selected a good group of players, some of whom were involved in last year’s programme and we’re excited to see them progress along with the new additions,” said Lineen.
“This is an important year for the U20 squad and after some good preparations, where we will play two FOSROC Super6 sides in Watsonians Rugby and Ayrshire Bulls in planned sessions, the boys will be ready to face Ireland in the Six Nations opener at the end of January.
“There will still be opportunities to add to the squad throughout January for a number of players who are currently out injured and who impress the coaching staff ahead of the tournament.”
The age-grade side endured a tough 2018-19, finishing bottom of the Six Nations with just one win and then being relegated from the top tier U20 World Championship in June after losing all five of their games.
Tickets for Scotland U20 v England U20 at Myreside (Friday 7 February, kick-off 7.30pm) and Scotland U20 v France U20 at Netherdale (Friday 6 March, kick-off 8pm) are on sale now and can be bought from the Scottish Rugby Ticket Centre HERE.
Scotland U20 6 Nations Training Squad –
Forwards
Ewan Ashman (Sale Sharks)
Connor Boyle (Watsonians Rugby)
George Breese (Stirling Wolves)
Gregor Brown (Boroughmuir Bears)
Jamie Campbell (Biggar)
Dan Gamble (Heriot’s Rugby)
Rory Darge (Southern Knights)
Cameron Henderson (Stirling County)
Jack Hill (Durham University)
Rory Jackson (Ayrshire Bulls)
Rory Jackson (Watsonians Rugby)
Thomas Jeffrey (Jed-Forest)
Alex Maxwell (Stourbridge RFC)
Cairn Ramsay (Currie Chieftains)
Robbie Simpson (Edinburgh Accies)
Archie Smeaton (Cambridge University)
Backs
Jack Blain (Heriot’s Rugby)
Nathan Chamberlain (Hartpury College/Bristol Bears)
Matthew Currie (Watsonians Rugby)
Roan Frostwick (Watsonians Rugby)
Callum Grieve (Newcastle University)
Jacob Henry (Southern Knights)
Scott King (Heriot’s Rugby)
Robbie McCallum (Boroughmuir Bears)
Kyle McGhie (Boroughmuir Bears)
Rufus McLean (Boroughmuir Bears)
Scott Robeson (Heriots Rugby)
Cameron Scott (Boroughmuir Bears)
Ollie Smith (Ayrshire Bulls)
A few guys missing I was expecting to see in here.
Jamie Dobie is the obvious one, but presumably he is needed at Glasgow during 6 nations, when both Horne and Price are away. He may well come back to the Under 20s for the World Cup/Trophy in the Summer.
No Mak Wilson, Southern Knights prop, who played under 20 last season.
Also no Gavin Wilson (Ayrshire Bulls), Kieran Watt (Watsons6)or Kristian Kay (Stirling County) who are all age appropriate and all playing Super 6.
Andrew Mitchell has again been a stand out in Premier 1 with Hawick, but perhaps his refusal to move for a Super 6 contract counts against him. Also Paul Cunningham of Musselburgh has a fair bit of Premier 1 experience and is a good utility back to have on the bench
I thought Teddy Leatherbarrow of Sale who played last year for 20s was still eligible(though open side is a very competitive position in this team with Boyle and Smeaton in the squad). No 8 Muncaster of Leicester Academy is eligible, but may have opted for England this season. Prop Alex Pleasants in the Wasps Academy is another who has played for Scotland at Under 18 and might well come into the reckoning later in the season, as we look a bit thin at prop.
SRU is full of ‘jobs for the boys ‘ employees who just move to other departments in SRU land when they fail to deliver .
Which is more often than not.
Who picks half of these guys I wonder .
Well done boys selected but please can we look at this.Do you realy think this is the best 29 under 20s in scottish rugby.Mr lineen is running scottish rugby and not for the better.How can you be in charge of forsoc super 6 at the same time scotland 18 coach and 20 coach.This is one mans view on scottish rugby.If this was a buisness they would be under scrutiny for playing multi roles.There will be alot of under 20 in scottish rugby today wondering where there going wrong.
No Jamie Dobie? I suppose he’ll get game time for Glasgow during the 6N, so fair enough.
Sounds a little strange to be saying we “need” wins at this level, but for all our much-vaunted academies, we’ve been dumped out the world U20s and weren’t great in this tournament last time out. Time for the system (and the various individuals involved in it) to start delivering!