Visser & Brown On Scotland Tour

Edinburgh Rugby back-three stars Tim Visser and Tom Brown are among the five uncapped players named today in Scotland’s 28-strong playing squad for their summer tour to Australasia.Completing the quintet are Glasgow Warriors forwards Ryan Grant, Robert Harley and Tom Ryder.All except Visser were among the Scotland A squad who put England Saxons to the sword 35-0 at Netherdale in February, while the 24-year-old Dutch-born winger, will qualify for Scotland through the three-year residency rule on 12 June, and will thus be available for selection for the Tests against Fiji and Samoa.Visser, who has scored a remarkable 43 tries in 74 appearances for Edinburgh Rugby since he joined from Newcastle Falcons three years ago, and has been top try scorer in the RaboDirect PRO12 for the past three seasons, is delighted by his call-up.He said: Im very honoured, having lived here for such a long time now Ive got to know the country and the people very well and I feel very much part of the country.I feel really at home here and the people have been great. I would love to represent Scotland.His 22-year-old team-mate, Tom Brown, is a product of North Berwick RFC and the Edinburgh Academy, who has also played club rugby for Currie.He said: It was a pretty tense day yesterday wondering if the call might come and when it did it was pretty overwhelming but Im really looking forward to it.Brown, who has been mentored by Scotland’s cap and points record-holder, Chris Paterson, both through the Winning Scotland Foundation and at club level, said his experience with Edinburgh Rugby this season would stand him in good stead.It’s been pretty massive. Looking at where I was last year, Ive come so far this year and being a part of the Edinburgh set-up has been a huge part of that development.My confidence has gone through the roof since last year and being involved in the (Heineken Cup) quarter and the semi-final, that was a huge step-up and Im relishing the opportunity to go up another level.Also listed is young centre Matt Scott, who made his debut during the 2012 RBS 6 Nations Championship, as well as regular internationalists Ross Ford (tour captain), Edinburgh Rugby captain Greig Laidlaw, Geoff Cross, Nick De Luca, Ross Rennie.Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said: ‘this is a tough tour for Scotland._ Well be playing against three attack-minded teams on their own turf._ But it’s an important opportunity to start the rebuilding process after a disappointing RBS 6 Nations.One quarter of the squad has yet to start an international but weve seen from the manner in which Edinburgh and Glasgow have finished the domestic season that there’s confidence that we will be looking to build on. Scotland squad (sponsor RBS) for the summer tour to Australia, Fiji and Samoa:_Backs Joe Ansbro (London Irish), Mike Blair, Tom Brown (Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby), Max Evans (Castres), Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby) and Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors)Forwards John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), Geoff Cross, Ross Ford CAPTAIN (both Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant, Richie Gray, Dougie Hall, Robert Harley, Alastair Kellock (all Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby), Tom Ryder (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks) and Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors). Unavailable through injury: Kelly Brown (Saracens), David Denton and Lee Jones (both Edinburgh Rugby) Rested: Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby)__ Squad departs: Thursday 24 MayMatches:Tuesday 5 June v Australia at Newcastle, New South Wales, kick-off 7.30pm local time (which is nine hours ahead of BST)Saturday 16 June v Fiji in Lautoka, kick-off 2pm local time (which is 11 hours ahead of BST)Saturday 23 June v Samoa in Apia, kick-off 3.30pm local time (which is 12 hours ahead of BST)