Craig Smith, the experienced international prop, has decided to stand down from the Scotland tour to Argentina next month and is considering his future in professional rugby in Scotland. His place will be taken by the uncapped 25-year-old Edinburgh prop Geoff Cross, who graduated in medicine from Edinburgh University two years ago.Craig Smith, the experienced international prop, has decided to stand down from the Scotland tour to Argentina next month and is considering his future in professional rugby in Scotland. Smith, 29, who won his 25th cap during the most recent RBS 6 Nations Championship, has been playing full-on for the past year as he was a member of the Scotland A squad at the Barclays Churchill Cup last May. A number of injuries in the closing stages of the season resulted in Smith missing the last three games of the Magners League. Scotland coach Frank Hadden said: After a long, hard season and various injuries, Craig feels that he’s not at his best to represent Scotland in Argentina. In due course, Edinburgh coach Andy Robinson and I will be discussing what options are best, but hopefully after a summer break, Craig will be ready to resume full training again as a fully fit Craig Smith has much to offer the national team. Meantime, we have decided to call up Geoff Cross to the Scotland squad for the tour to Argentina. Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) Prop. Born:11.12.82. Height: 6ft (1.83m). Weight: 17st 1lb (109kg). Geoffrey Dominic Sebastian Cross entered professional rugby when he joined The Borders in 2003 from Heriot’s after having played for Scotland under-21 that year, including being at tight-head in the team who beat England 33-22 at Newbury in the final match of the age group’s world championship. In December 2006 he moved from Border Reivers to Edinburgh Rugby on loan until the end of the season, and his debut for the capital city’s team followed later that month in the Magners League game against Glasgow Warriors at Hughenden. His Edinburgh contract was made more permanent in summer 2007. Geoff is a member of the Scottish Institute of Sport. He graduated in medicine from Edinburgh University in 2006. International record: uncapped.

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