Heathcote Added To Scotland Squad

Uncapped, Inverness-born stand-off Tom Heathcote has tonight joined the Scotland squad in Aberdeen in preparation for Saturday’s EMC Test against Tonga.Heathcote, 20, who has already featured in the Heineken Cup for Bath Rugby, has previously played age-grade for England but is “delighted” to accept the call-up from the land of his birth.Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said: “Tom has worked his way into the Bath first team squad from the academy and we’ve been monitoring his progress for the last couple of years.””I am delighted to be called up to the Scotland squad.Heathcote, who was recently short-listed for the 2013 LV= Breakthrough Player Award down south, told www.scottishrugby.org: “I am delighted to be called up to the Scotland squad. I’ve always known I was eligible to play for Scotland and I’m grateful to be given this opportunity.”Five players have been released from the Scotland squad which arrived in Aberdeen tonight.  They will go back to their pro-clubs who have matches this Friday in the RaboDirect PRO12 – Glasgow Warriors at home to Leinster and Edinburgh Rugby at home to Ospreys.They are Ruaridh Jackson, Alex Dunbar and Tom Ryder (all Glasgow Warriors) and Lee Jones and Allan Jacobsen, who has now retired from international rugby (both Edinburgh Rugby).The Scotland team to play Tonga will be announced in Aberdeen on Wednesday.