Scotland Under-20 training squad named for January camp

Scottish Rugby’s Head of International Age-Grade, Sean Lineen, has named a 30-man Scotland Under-20 squad for a three-day training camp this week (Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 January). The training squad – which contains 17 forwards and 13 backs – today gathers at the Oriam training facility, with players vying for their place in the Scotland under-20 squad for the 2017 Six Nations Championship, which starts with a home game against Ireland at Broadwood Stadium (Friday 3 February, kick-off 8.30pm).The three-day camp will conclude with the first of the squad’s warm-up games against Glasgow Warriors A, before they play Scotland Club XV later in the month.Lineen said: “We’ve had a look at a lot of players over the course of this season – whether that be in the BT Premiership, or through the BT Sport Academy and Exiles programme – and feel that we have brought together a strong squad for this training camp.”It’s all to play for over the three days, with a chance of making the cut for the Six Nations squad in the offing.”Firstly, it’s imperative that those involved can learn to play as part of this team.”We’re also looking for character, grit and a real desire to play for the jersey, along with a good working attitude and willingness to learn as there’s a lot to get through during this camp.” Over half of the selected squad are affiliated to the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy, with ten of those on stage 3 player contracts.There is also an air of experience within the group with eight members of the squad having picked up caps for Scotland U20 in last season’s Six Nations and World Rugby Under-20 Championship campaigns.Lineen continued: “It’s great to see the Academy lending so much talent to the age-grade programme.”These players are better conditioned than ever to play at international level, but they must now show they can transfer the hard-work on the training paddock on to the pitch.”A lot of the boys have already played at international age-grade level and we want to see them step-up and lend their experience to the players around them, which should help drive the standards of the group.”Scotland under-20 squad selected for a three-day training camp at Oriam Sports Facility (Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 January)ForwardsHamish Bain (Currie)* Fergus Bradbury (Stirling County)* Alex Craig (Gloucester Academy) Luke Crosbie (Currie)** Tom Dodd (Worcester Academy) Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Hawks)** Bruce Flockhart (Glasgow Hawks)** Thomas Gordon (Currie)** Jonny Grant (Stewart’s Melville) Shaun Gunn (Edinburgh Accies) Calum Hunter-Hill (Stirling County)** Adam Nicol (Stirling County) Fraser Renwick (Hawick)* Jack Samuel (Cardiff Metropolitan University) George Thornton (Northumbria University) Jamie Ure (Boroughmuir)* Daniel Winning (Boroughmuir)**Backs Ruaridh Dawson (Newcastle Academy) Paddy Dewhirst (Ayr) Connor Eastgate (Wasps Academy) Darcy Graham (Hawick)** Ali Greig (Bristol University) Josh Henderson (Glasgow Hawks)* Cameron Hutchison (Currie)** Stafford MacDowell (Ayr) Ross McCann (Melrose)** Robbie Nairn (Bristol University) Craig Pringle (Stirling County)* Charlie Shiel (Currie)** Andrew Simmers (Heriot’s)*BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy Stage 2 player 2016/17 **BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy Stage 3 player 2016/17