The Scotland U17 development squad has been selected in preparation for this season’s Millfield International Festival, which takes place at Millfield School in Somerset, from 6 to 12 April.The squad of 26 players will face a demanding schedule, taking on their counterparts from England, Belgium and Wales in the space of eight days. Prior to the Festival, the players will also compete in warm-up games against Newcastle Falcons and a Caledonia selectAs the squad got together for their first training weekend in St Andrews, head coach Bryan Easson said: “The boys are now on the steepest learning curve of their rugby playing lives and will come up against different challenges, week on week. “This development programme is an excellent way of exposing our potential players of the future to the demands of top flight rugby against the best opposition we can possibly play. I’m expecting nothing short of a huge physical and mental test for each and every one of them.”Scotland U17 Development SquadForwardsPropsRobin Hislop (Hawick Wanderers) Gavin Robertson (Earlston HS / Melrose Wasps)Fraser Watt (East Kilbride)Alex Allen (Sedbergh School)HookersJack MacFarlane (Gourock HS / Greenock Wanderers)Fergus Scott (Currie Colts)Second rowsWilliam Kay (Boroughmuir)Fraser Wen (Hampton School / Wasps)Craig Ferguson (Glasgow HS)Back rowBen Johnstone (Stewart’s Melville College )Malcolm Peacock (George Watson’s College)Matthew Walker (Boroughmuir)Andrew Nagle (Jed Thistle)Jamie Swanson (Glasgow Academy)BacksScrum halvesMurray McConnell (Lenzie Academy / West of Scotland RFC)Jonny Adams (Aberdeen Grammar)Stand offsFraser Gillies (Edinburgh Academy)CentresJack Bradford (Worksop College )Michael Crawley (Stewart’s Melville College)Jamie Urquhart (Dollar Academy)Stewart Hogg (Hawick Wanderers)Back threeHarris Jones (Robert Gordon’s College)Aiden McCall-Haden (St Aloysius’ College)Ben Francis (Epsom College)Ross Inglis (Calderside Academy / Hamilton) Guy Skivington-Jones (Merchiston Castle School)ManagementTeam Manager – Robert ChartersHead Coach – Bryan EassonAssistant Coach – Gordon Henderson Assistant Coach – Mark Appleson CPD Coach – Stevie Scott Strength and Conditioning Coach – Gary Dempsey Doctor – John TurvillPhysiotherapist – Julie MorrowVideo Analyst – Ciaran BeattieMillfield International Festival 2009Tuesday 7 April   England A v Scotland U17    k/o 7pmThursday 9 April  Scotland U17 v Belgium       k/o 11.45amSunday 12 April   Scotland U17 v Wales A       k/o 9.30am