Uncapped Duo Named In Scotland Squad

Head coach Andy Robinson has named 14 Glasgow Warriors players _including uncapped duo Ryan Grant and Robert Harley – in a 40-strong_provisional Scotland squad for the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 in New_Zealand this autumn. Garnt and Harley also find themselves among 19 players who would be_experiencing world rugby’s pinnacle competition for the first time. In total ten players will require to be trimmed from the provisional_squad when the final 30 are named after Scotland’s EMC Tests against_Ireland and Italy in August.Head coach Andy Robinson has named 14 Glasgow Warriors players – including uncapped duo Ryan Grant and Robert Harley – in a 40-strong provisional Scotland squad for the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand this autumn.Garnt and Harley also find themselves among 19 players who would be experiencing world rugby’s pinnacle competition for the first time.In total ten players will require to be trimmed from the provisional squad when the final 30 are named after Scotland’s EMC Tests against Ireland and Italy in August.Robinson declared: Im pleased with the squad._ There’s a good blend of the experienced, the battle-hardened and up and coming talent.’the task that lies ahead for these players now is to be at the very peak of their powers in order to do themselves, their families, friends and country proud in New Zealand in September and October.’scotland have always qualified from the pool stages to reach the quarter-finals at the six previous Rugby World Cup tournaments and that has to be our first target this autumn.Scotland are drawn in a pool alongside Romania, Georgia, Argentina and England.Home-based Scotland players will begin their Rugby World Cup training camp on Monday 20 June. Robinson explained: All of our players will be on individual development programmes aimed at improving them as rugby players through a combination of fitness, strength and conditioning, led by Neill Potts and his team, and skills coaching.Amicable discussions are continuing with Exile players who are at PRL clubs in England in order that they will be able to join the training camp as soon as possible thereafter.Among those firmly in the experienced camp is Scotland’s only male cap centurion, Chris Paterson._ Should he make the final cut he would be on his way to his fourth Rugby World Cup competition, a landmark for a Scot. Scotland provisional squad for the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011:Backs – Joe Ansbro* (Northampton Saints); Mike Blair, Ben Cairns* (both Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Cuthbert* (Bath), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Nick De Luca* (Edinburgh), Max Evans* (Glasgow Warriors), Ruaridh Jackson* (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw* (Edinburgh), Rory Lamont (Toulon), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Graeme Morrison* (Glasgow Warriors), Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais), Nikki Walker (Ospreys).Forwards – John Barclay, John Beattie* (both Glasgow Warriors), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross*, David Denton* (both Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Ryan Grant*, Richie Gray*, Dougie Hall (all Glasgow Warriors), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Robert Harley* (Glasgow Warriors), Nathan Hines (Leinster), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock* (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Moray Low* (Glasgow Warriors), Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons), Ross Rennie* (Edinburgh), Alasdair Strokosch* (Gloucester), Fergus Thomson, Richie Vernon* (both Glasgow Warriors).* = Yet to play in a Rugby World Cup match.The squad will be reduced to 30 after Scotland’s final EMC Test against Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday 20 August.Tickets for that match and the EMC Test against Ireland at Murrayfield on Saturday 6 August are on sale now from _5 for under-18s and students and from _10 for adults. They can be bought online at www.scottishrugby.org or on the 24 hour credit card hotline 0844 335 3933.Scotland’s IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 pool matches are as follows:Saturday 10 September v Romania in Invercargill, kick-off 2am BSTWednesday 14 September v Georgia in Invercargill, kick-off 8.30am BSTSunday 25 September v Argentina in Wellington, kick-off 9.30am BSTSaturday 1 October v England in Auckland, kick-off 9.30am BST