New year, new challenges for Scotland under-20 selection

Following camps in October and November, Scotland’s under-20 squad regroup early in the new year (6 to 9 January) as preparations intensify for their age grade 6 Nations in February and March and on to June’s IRB Junior World Championship.The reduced squad of 32 includes a number of players who recently formed part of an under-19 team that took on Australian Schools at Myreside earlier this month, including try scorer Magnus Bradbury alongside his fellow Edinburgh Rugby EDP Neil Irvine-Hess and Glasgow Warriors EDP Gavin Lowe.Head coach Sean Lineen said: The last camp in mid November gave the players a taste of international rugby as they trained with the Scotland team. It proved a real test of their skill levels and living with the fast pace of international training. I was delighted with the concentration and confidence levels.The players who competed for Scotland under-19s stepped up to the mark physically against Australian Schools. This game was a huge physical test against an international side that had been on the road for three weeks. The forwards, especially, didn’t take a backward step and you could see they enjoyed the fierce nature of the battle.This first January camp is very important as we prepare for Ireland. It is a particularly challenging camp where the contact work is accelerated and we play against a combined Melrose/Heriot’s team at Murrayfield on 7 January.”With the reduced number of players the coaches work closely with the players in improving individual skills and making sure the understanding is there in terms of game-plan.The Scots come together again at the end of the month, in a final selection and with a game against a Scotland Club XV side, prior to taking on Ireland away in Athlone on Friday 31 January in their opening Six Nations fixture of 2014.Scotland under-20 January camp squadMagnus Bradbury (Boroughmuir/Edinburgh Rugby) **?Lewis Carmichael (Melrose) *?Jack Cosgrove (Worcester Warriors)?Ben Cooper (Boroughmuir)?Andrew Cramond (Aberdeen Grammar)?Phil Cringle (Edinburgh Accies/Edinburgh Rugby) **?Jamie Farndale (Edinburgh Accies/Edinburgh Rugby) **?Cameron Fenton (Strathallan/Howe of Fife) *?Ross Graham (Hawick)?George Horne (Currie) *?Damien Hoyland (Melrose) *?Blair Hutchison (Loughborough University/Melrose)?Neil Irvine-Hess (Watsonians/Edinburgh Rugby)?Sam James (London Wasps)?Cameron Jeffery (Bristol University)?Joe Jones (College Rovers under-20/Durban Sharks under-19)?Gavin Lowe (Glasgow Hawks/Glasgow Warriors) **?Murdo McAndrew (Clermont Auvergne)?James Malcolm (Ayr)? *Shaun MacDonald (Stirling County)?Sam Pecquer (Edinburgh Accies)?D’arcy Rae (Ayr/Glasgow Warriors)? **Angus Rennie (Aberdeen Grammar) *?Iain Sexton (Edinburgh University)?Henry Slater (Durham University)?Tommy Spinks (London Scottish)?Richard Taylor (Loretto/Melrose) *?Sam Thomson (Worcester Students)?Angus Wallace (Boroughmuir)?Ben Vellacott (Worcester Warriors/Hartpury)?Glen Young (Newcastle Falcons)?Ruairidh Young (Edinburgh Accies)* member of Scottish Rugby’s Regional Academy supported by sportscotland Institute of Sport?** Elite Development Player 2013/14Under-20 6 Nations Championship 2014?Friday 31 January Ireland v Scotland (kick-off 7.05pm) Dubarry Park, Athlone?Friday 7 February Scotland under-20 v England under-20, Netherdale, Galashiels (kick-off 7.30pm), admission free for concessions?Italy v Scotland (details tbc)?Friday 7 March Scotland under-20 v France under-20, Netherdale, Galashiels (kick-off 7.30pm) admission free for concessions?Friday 14 March Wales v Scotland (kick-off 7.00pm, S4C) Eirias, Colwyn Bay £15 seated,£10 terrace /£5 concession)IRB Junior World Championship 2014, New Zealand?Monday 2 June, South Africa v Scotland, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, kick-off 3.35pm (local)?Friday 6 June, Scotland v Samoa, Pukekohe Stadium, kick-off 3.35pm (local)?Wednesday 10 June, New Zealand v Scotland, Pukekohe Stadium, kick-off 7.35pm (local)?Further fixtures on Sunday 15 June and Friday 20 June are dependent on results