Head Coach John Dalziel has named Three Dumfries and Galloway lads in his Scotland U20 squad for the forthcoming World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia (31 May-18 June).
The 28-man squad consists of 16 forwards and 12 backs, and includes three players who all started their rugby career’s in youth teams in Dumfries and Galloway. Alex Craig from Corsock who used to play at Stewartry Rugby club but now plays at Gloucester, Stafford McDowall from Dundrennan who also played for Stewartry and now plays for Ayr and Robbie Smith who played for Newton Stewart but now also plays at Ayr, will all be heading to Georgia at the end of May.
Dalziel said: “We’ve picked a well-rounded squad, which has grown together through their experience of the recent Six Nations.
“The team showed that they are capable of producing some very good rugby but need to be more consistent. Finding that 80-minute performance will be key to our overall showing in the World Championship.
“Selection is only the start for these players, and we have a lot of work to do between now and the competition. In order to get the most out of the tournament, we need full commitment from everyone given the opportunity to don the shirt.”
Scotland are grouped in Pool B with New Zealand, Ireland and Italy.
Dalziel continued: “We’re up against three quality sides in our pool, with the games made even more difficult taking into account the tight turnaround.
“The group has learned from their experience on this stage previously, and we’ll look to take that understanding into this year’s tournament.
“The competition will be play a vital part in these players’ development in the long-term and we’re excited to get started in a few weeks’ time.”
Scotland U20 pool fixtures in the World Rugby U20 Championship
Wednesday 31 May: New Zealand U20 v Scotland U20, Kutaisi Stadium, Kutaisi (kick-off 1pm local/10am BST)
Sunday 4 June: Ireland U20 v Scotland U20, Kutaisi Stadium, Kutaisi (kick-off 1pm local/10am BST)
Thursday 8 June: Scotland U20 v Italy U20, Kutaisi Stadium, Kutaisi (kick-off 1pm local/10am BST)
Scotland U20 squad to compete in the 2017 World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia (Wednesday 31 May – Sunday 19 June)
Forwards
Hamish Bain (Currie)*
Fergus Bradbury (Stirling County)*
Alex Craig (Gloucester)***
Luke Crosbie (Currie)**
Tom Dodd (Worcester)***
Ross Dunbar (Boroughmuir)*
Archie Erskine (Newcastle Falcons)***
Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Hawks)**
Bruce Flockhart (Glasgow Hawks)**
Thomas Gordon (Currie)**
Callum Hunter-Hill (Stirling County)**
Adam Nicol (Stirling County)
Fraser Renwick (Hawick)*
Robbie Smith (Ayr)*
George Thornton (Bishop Burton College)***
Daniel Winning (Boroughmuir)**
Backs
Patrick Anderson (Melrose)
Ruaridh Dawson (Newcastle Falcons)***
Connor Eastgate (Wasps)***
Darcy Graham (Hawick)**
Josh Henderson (Glasgow Hawks)*
Robert Kay (Heriot’s)
Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby)
Stafford McDowall (Ayr)
Ross McCann (Melrose)**
Robbie Nairn (Harlequins)***
Charlie Shiel (Currie)**
Andrew Simmers (Heriot’s)
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