Scotland name U21 squad
Six Nations, World Championship ahead
Ian Paxton, Scotland's Under-21 coach has chosen a "core" squad of 26 players for this year's campaign which includes the Six Nations and the IRB's World Championship in France in June.
Half of the squad are already professional rugby players.
Paxton said: “Last year hooker Ross Ford was the only full-time professional in our core squad but this year we have 13 players who are involved with pro-sides, who'll bring a great deal of experience to the group, who are fully prepared for the level of competition we'll face next month.”
The whole of the backrow has Heineken Cup experience - John Barclay, John Beattie of the Glasgow Warriors, Alan MacDonald of the Edinburgh Gunners who made his debut against the Scarlets in the exciting encounter with the Scarlets this past weekend.
Other professional players include Garry Law of the Border Reivers, Dave Blair of Sale Sharks, two Leicester Tigers players in prop David Young, lock Ian Nimmo.
Then there are six apprentices with Scottish professional teams -Ben Cairns, Kyle Traynor of Edinburgh Gunners, Iain Kennedy, James Eddie of Glasgow Warriors , Lee Kibble, James King of the Border Reivers.
Paxton said: “This is the core squad from which our starting line up against France in Falkirk on Friday 3 February will be picked. It is a very capable squad with a lot of talent but the Six Nations will be a big call for the players. Last year we finished third overall, if we match that or even better it, I'll be very pleased."
So far the Scottish Under-21 side has lost to Sale Jets 65-19, next plays Newcastle Falcons Development XV.
Scotland are seeded sixth for the IRB's World Championship to be played in France in June. They are in the same pool as Australia, Italy, England
Paxton professed himself pleased with the draw, saying: “It’s a good draw for us. We played Australia last year in the world championship in Mendoza, Argentina, almost came away with a result (lost 28-22) so it'll be good to test ourselves against them again.
“Italy, England are familiar to us because we play them in the Six Nations. Last year we played Canada in the pool, that was good because they are a side we don't face very often but this year we have a different challenge to take on. There are hard teams at every stage, this is a very competitive tournament.",
Scotland Under-21 Core Squad:
Backs: Ben Addison (Stirling County, Central Institute of Sport), Stephen Biggart (Glasgow Hawks), Dave Blair (Sale Sharks), Ben Cairns (Edinburgh Gunners, Currie, Scottish Institute of Sport), Robert Cairns (Boroughmuir), Iain Kennedy (Glasgow Warriors, Glasgow Hawks, West of Scotland Institute of Sport), Lee Kibble (Border Reivers, Biggar, East of Scotland Institute of Sport), James King (Border Reivers, Melrose, East of Scotland Institute of Sport), Greig Laidlaw (Jed-Forest), Garry Law (Border Reivers), Dave Whiteford (Melrose)
Forwards: John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors, Scottish Institute of Sport), John Beattie (Glasgow Warriors, Scottish Institute of Sport), Innes Brown (Stirling County, East of Scotland Institute of Sport), Willie Brown (Hillhead/Jordanhill, West of Scotland Institute of Sport), Sean Crombie (Aberdeen GSFP, Grampian Institute of Sport), James Eddie (Glasgow Warriors, Ayr, West of Scotland Institute of Sport), Ryan Grant (The Army), Alan MacDonald (Edinburgh Gunners, Scottish Institute of Sport), Ross Miller (Melrose), Scott Newlands (Heriot’s, East of Scotland Institute of Sport), Ian Nimmo (Leicester Tigers), Michael Robertson (Hawick), James Taggart (Currie), Kyle Traynor (Edinburgh Gunners, Boroughmuir, East of Scotland Institute of Sport), David Young (Leicester Tigers)