Scotland U20 team named for first World Rugby U20 Trophy pool match

Age-grade teams from across the world will compete in three pool matches over the next two weeks before play-offs day on Wednesday 17 July where one team will earn first place and promotion to the World Rugby U20 Championship.

In the Scottish team, flanker Liam McConnell will lead the 23-man squad, supported by fellow back row Tom Currie and wing Geordie Gwynn as vice-captains.

Robbie Deans starts in the loosehead prop position after making appearances in all five Under-20 Six Nations games earlier this year. The Blyth-Lafferty brothers will play for the first time together in the Scotland U20 shirt on an international stage when they join Deans in the front row as hooker and tighthead.

The second row is made up of towering Euan McVie and Ryan Burke, both of whom made impressive performances during their first Scotland U20 campaigns in the Six Nations at the start of the year. A strong back row sees McConnell and Currie joined by exciting young blindside flanker Freddy Douglas to complete the forward pack.

Scotland U20 debutant Conor McAlpine will make his first appearance for the age-grade side when he starts at scrum-half, joined by Andrew McLean who will start at stand-off.

Finlay Doyle, who broke onto the Scotland U20 scene during the Six Nations, will join Gwynn on the opposite wing, with Johnny Ventisei and Findlay Thomson pairing up in the centre positions. Fergus Watson will start at full-back to complete the starting fifteen.

The squad boasts an experienced bench with a five-three split. Gavin Parry, Ben White (who has been welcomed into the squad), Callum Norrie, Ruaraidh Hart and Jonny Morris will be in place to bolster the forwards whilst Hector Patterson, Kerr Yule and Jack Hocking cover the backs.

Head Coach Kenny Murray said: “We are looking forward to kick starting the World Rugby U20 Trophy campaign.

“The boys have been training hard over the past few months and just want to get out there and do themselves, their families and Scotland proud.

“Samoa are up first and we know that they will be a tough opponent. We had a good result against them last year, but this is a completely different competition, so we must make sure we are at the top of our game when we come up against them on Tuesday.”

Scotland U20 team to face Samoa U20 on Tuesday 2 July at Hive Stadium, Edinburgh (kick off 5.15pm, live on BBC ALBA)

15. Fergus Watson (Glasgow Warriors)

14. Finlay Doyle (Loughborough University)
13. Johnny Ventisei (Glasgow Warriors)
12. Findlay Thomson (Watsonians)
11. Geordie Gwynn (Ealing Trailfinders/Brunel University) – Vice-captain

10. Andrew McLean (Boroughmuir Bears)
9. Conor McAlpine (Watsonians)

1. Robbie Deans (Edinburgh Rugby)
2. Jerry Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby)
3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby)
4. Euan McVie (Edinburgh Rugby)
5. Ryan Burke (Glasgow Warriors)
6. Liam McConnell (Edinburgh Rugby) – Captain
7. Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby)
8. Tom Currie (Edinburgh Rugby) – Vice-captain

Replacements

16. Gavin Parry (Watsonians/Pontypridd RFC)
17. Ben White (Biggar RFC)
18. Callum Norrie (Glasgow Warriors)
19. Ruaraidh Hart (Glasgow Warriors)
20. Jonny Morris (Glasgow Warriors)
21. Hector Patterson (Edinburgh Rugby)
22. Kerr Yule (Glasgow Warriors)
23. Jack Hocking (Edinburgh Rugby)