Duo Called Up To Scotland Squad

Two players are being called into the Scotland squad in Australia preparing for their three Test matches in the South Pacific next month. Stuart McInally, the 21-year-old Edinburgh Rugby back-row forward, will fly out from the UK later today to join the tourists in time for their arrival in Newcastle, New South Wales on Saturday. The city in the Hunter Valley region will host Tuesday’s Test match against the Wallabies. Meanwhile, Alex Dunbar, the 22-year-old Glasgow Warriors centre who ended the season so strongly, will join up with the party in Sydney tomorrow. Dunbar has been visiting family in Tasmania, therefore is already acclimatised to Australian conditions.  Scotland head coach Andy Robinson explained: “We’ve called up Stuart as a precaution given a hand injury that John Barclay sustained in training yesterday. John should be available for selection for the Test but we felt it better to ensure we have sufficient back-row options. “Alex will meet up with the squad tomorrow. We’ve gone for him as we are still liaising with the IRB, French Federation and Castres to have Max Evans join us as soon as possible.” Castres are involved in the Top 14 semi-finals this weekend with the IRB’s June Test window, which is covered off in their international player release regulations, beginning next weekend. McInally, who has captained Scotland at under-17, under-18 and under-20 levels, as well as winning Scotland 7s and Scotland A honours, has recovered from the hamstring injury which forced him to miss Edinburgh Rugby’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Ulster. Dunbar,  a product of Scotland under-20 and Scotland 7s, played his club rugby for Annan and Selkirk and, alongside Nick De Luca, becomes the second Lockerbie Academy former pupil to join the tour squad.