‘A’ Team named for Summer Tour opener

Interim Head Coach Mike Blair selects 17 uncapped players in the matchday 23 as a new-look Scotland squad begin their 2021 Summer Tour with an ‘A’ international at the home of Leicester Tigers.

With nine players isolating following a positive COVID-19 case earlier this week, the newly selected quartet of Stafford McDowall, Callum Hunter-Hill, Ben Vellacott and George Taylor go straight in to the matchday 23.

Leicester Tigers’ centre Matt Scott captains the side on his return to international rugby and his club ground.

Edinburgh Rugby’s Damien Hoyland starts at fullback with clubmate Blair Kinghorn and Glasgow Warrior Rufus McLean named on the wings.

Outside-centre Scott – the most-capped player in the 23 – is paired with Glasgow Warriors’ inside centre McDowall in midfield.

Ross Thompson is handed the No. 10 jersey after recently being named Glasgow Warriors’ Player of the Season, with Edinburgh Rugby‘s Charlie Shiel selected at scrum-half.

Glasgow Warrior Oli Kebble is named at tighthead prop and packs down alongside uncapped duo Ewan Ashman (hooker) and Nick Auterac (loosehead prop) in the front-row.

Locks Cameron Henderson – who also returns to his home ground – and Glasgow Warriors’ Kiran McDonald combine in the second-row.

Edinburgh Rugby No. 8 Magnus Bradbury anchors a back-row that sees Glasgow Warriors’ Rory Darge and Bath’s Josh Bayliss – named vice-captain for this ‘A’ fixture – selected at openside and blindside flanker respectively.

Glasgow Warriors’ stand-off Adam Hastings is the only capped player named among the replacements, with Adam McBurney, Robin Hislop, Javan Sebastian, Jamie Hodgson, Hunter-Hill, Vellacott and Taylor all vying to make their ‘A’ international debuts.

Interim Head Coach Mike Blair, said: “We’ve clearly had a bit of disruption this week, but the medical team and our playing squad have handled the situation extremely professionally.

“It is unfortunately a reminder of the world we’re currently living in and the players are now isolating as per Scottish Government guidelines.

“Despite this, we’ve still had a really good training week, with this young and talented squad maintaining the high standards and levels of enthusiasm that we expect while in Scotland camp.

“As we’ve said all week, we’re treating this ‘A’ game like a Test match, and so the build-up and processes that we go through on a weekly basis have remained the same. We expect our squad to continue that intensity into game day, as this match gives every player an opportunity to prove themselves on the international stage.

“This is a relatively new group of players – especially with Stafford, Callum, Ben and George only just coming in to the squad – however they’ve already shown in a short space of time that they have the ability and attitude to make a statement with their performances.

“The players have put in the hard work and now we look forward to the challenge of taking on a strong England ‘A’ side this Sunday.”

Scotland ‘A’ team to play England ‘A’ at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Leicester
Sunday 27 June (kick-off 2pm) – live on Channel 4

15. Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh Rugby)

14. Rufus McLean (Glasgow Warriors)
13. Matt Scott (Leicester Tigers) CAPTAIN
12. Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors)
11. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby)

10. Ross Thompson (Glasgow Warriors)
9. Charlie Shiel (Edinburgh Rugby)

1. Nick Auterac (Northampton Saints)
2. Ewan Ashman (Sale Sharks)
3. Oli Kebble (Glasgow Warrriors)
4. Cameron Henderson (Leicester Tigers)
5. Kiran McDonald (Glasgow Warriors)
6. Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby)
7. Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors)
8. Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby)

Substitutes:

16. Adam McBurney (Ulster Rugby)
17. Robin Hislop (Doncaster Knights)
18. Javan Sebastian (Scarlets)
19. Jamie Hodgson (Edinburgh Rugby)
20. Callum Hunter-Hill (Saracens)
21. Ben Vellacott (Wasps)
22. Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors)
23. George Taylor (Edinburgh Rugby)