Scotland Under-18 Step Up A Gear

Forty players attended a Scotland under-18 training camp at Murrayfield as preparations are stepped up for the Six Nations Under-18 Festival in Cork this spring. The players were selected after their performances during the two national under-18 development sessions that were held in September, school and community club games in Scotland and the Scottish Exiles player pathway programme in England.Forty players attended a Scotland under-18 training camp at Murrayfield as preparations are stepped up for the Six Nations Under-18 Festival in Cork this spring. The players were selected after their performances during the two national under-18 development sessions that were held in September, school and community club games in Scotland and the Scottish Exiles player pathway programme in England. Selection was also based on last seasons national under-17 development programme, which included a three week national core rugby themes and conditioning camp in Valladolid, Spain back in July. After the New Year camp, the under-18 programme moves into the district arena with the forthcoming under-18 Inter District Championship along with a Scottish Exiles fixture against Welsh Colleges in Bristol. Once all these fixtures have been completed, the Scotland under-18 management team will have the task of selecting a squad of 26 players to participate in three weekends of international preparation before they travel to Cork to play France, Ireland and England in the Six Nations Festival. This final squad will be selected after the final under-18 Inter District Championship weekend on Sunday 23 February. Scotland under-18 head coach, Grant McKelvey, said: Im absolutely delighted with the balance of this years squad. However, I cant stress to the players enough what a massive mental and physical test awaits those that eventually have the honour of being selected to play for Scotland at under-18 Level this season. The following players attended the camp: Props Nicky Little (Hawick) Colin Wood (Selkirk YC) Craig Owenson (Musselburgh) Andrew Fraser (York) Luke Pettie (Gala Wands) Paul Creek (Colston School) Hookers Mungo Strachan (Fettes College) Lindsey Gibson (Hawick Wanderers) Andrew Cook (Aberdeenshire) Locks Andrew Renwick (Selkirk YC) Robert Harley (West of Scotland) Matthew Reid (Aberdeen GS) Michael Walker (Lancaster University) Grant Gilchrist (Stirling County) Back Row Michael Maltman (Musselburgh) Michael Fedo (Bell Baxter / Howe of Fife) Jack Walker (Howe of Fife) Stuart McInally (George Watsons College) Ross Taylor (Aberdeen GS) Ross Sutherland (Sandbach) Chris Thomson (Fettes College) Robin Cessford (High School of Dundee) Scrum-halves Kris Hamilton (Caithness) Russell Weir (Merchiston Castle School) Bryan Walls (Musselburgh) Patrick Boyer (Highland) Stand-offs Alex Blair (Edinburgh Academy) Alec Porter (Ripon) George Graham (Carlisle) Ross Aitken (Bell Baxter / Howe of Fife) Centres Sam Hughes (Merchiston Castle School) Alec Dunbar (Annan) Michael Tait (Kelso Quins) Mitchell Ashworth (Mount St Marys College) Wings Max Learmonth (Berwick) Jamie Harris (Merchiston Castle School) Rory Drummond (Bell Baxter / Howe of Fife) Danny Kirkbright (Stirling County) Full-backs Tom Brown (Edinburgh Academy) Gary Johnstone (Hawick)