Preview: Ayrshire Bulls v FOSROC Future XV

MELROSE, SCOTLAND - JULY 28: Future XV's Isaac Coates converts during a FOSROC Super Series match between Southern Knights and FOSROC Future XV at the Greenyards, on July 28, 2023, in Melrose, Scotland. (Photo by Ewan Bootman / SNS Group)

Despite a defeat against Heriot’s Rugby last Saturday, the young team displayed a more competitive performance, one that harked back to their form in the first two weeks of the tournament when they fell one point short at the final whistle against Southern Knights and racked up a total of seven tries to Boroughmuir Bears’ nine in round two.

This Saturday’s fixture will be no short of a challenge for the FOSROC Future XV when they make the trip to Millbrae to face Ayrshire Bulls for the first time. The Bulls, who placed first at the 2023 FOSROC Super Series Sprint earlier this year, currently sit at the top of the table and have acquired a total of 20 points so far in the Championship.

The FOSROC Future XV will welcome another handful of Scotland U20 players who partook in the World Rugby U20 Trophy in July to the team this weekend. Centre Ben Salmon, second row Ruaraidh Hart, prop Callum Norrie and scrum half Finlay Burgess will all make their debut for the side at Millbrae. Glasgow Warriors Academy player Matthew Urwin also comes onto the bench to bolster the backs.

Head Coach Scott Forrest said: “Last week’s first half performance against Heriot’s showed a lot more positives and demonstrated how resilient this group is becoming. The task this weekend is one of the toughest we will face as we know how formidable the Bulls are when playing at Millbrae.

“We are expecting a very physical encounter with the Bulls strengths clearly evident across the pitch. We have started to build our own identity and will look to build on the positives elements that we showed in our attack in those first 40 minutes against Heriot’s.”

The team