Yule breaks appearance record in final U20 Men Championship game

BPEfoto/ Maurilio Boldrini verona 9.7.2025 Payanini World Rugby U20 Championship nella foto:

Kerr Yule will set a new appearance record with 25, starting what will be his final game for Scotland U20 at inside centre.

There is only one change to the starting XV from the team that beat Ireland U20 on Monday, with Jed Findlay coming in at full-back and Jack Brown shifting to the right wing.

Oliver McKenna starts at loosehead prop with Ollie Blyth-Lafferty at tighthead prop, joining hooker Seb Stephen to make up the front row.

Dylan Cockburn and Bart Godsell combine in the second row, and blindside flanker Oliver Duncan, openside and co-captain Freddy Douglas and number 8 Reuben Logan are the back row selections for a fourth consecutive game.

In the backs, Hector Patterson starts at scrum-half and will combine with stand-off Matthew Urwin, the only back to start all five games, to make the half-backs.

Yule will be joined in the centres by co-captain Johnny Ventisei on the outside. Fergus Watson is selected on the left wing with Brown on the right, and the team is completed by Findlay at full-back.

Joe Roberts, Will Pearce and Jake Shearer are primed to come in the front row, with Charlie Moss and Mark Fyffe the other replacement forwards. Backs Noah Cowan, Isaac Coates and Jack Hocking are the final substitutes.

Murray said: “What Kerr will achieve on Saturday is down to all the hard work he has been since he came into the squad at 17 years old back in 2023. It’s a record that will be hard for anyone to top and I know the squad want to mark the occasion with a win.

“All the staff were delighted for the players that they got a win that they thoroughly deserved for the effort they’ve put in so far in the championship. We’re not satisfied with one win though, we’re determined to finish on a high and secure 9^th place.

“We were pleased with elements of the Ireland game but we know we can play better than that and we will need to if we’re going to beat a Georgia team that have improved as the championship has gone on.

“This will be the last time this group play together and a final game in a Scotland U20 jersey for a lot of these players. We want to see them put in one last performance for the full 80 minutes and do themselves and their country proud.”

Scotland U20 Men team to play Georgia U20 at Stadio San Michele, Calvisano on Saturday (kick off 7.30pm BST/8.30pm local) – live on RugbyPassTV

15. Jed Findlay (Exeter Chiefs)
14. Jack Brown (Edinburgh Rugby)
13. Johnny Ventisei – co-captain (Glasgow Warriors)
12. Kerr Yule (Glasgow Warriors)
11. Fergus Watson (Glasgow Warriors)

10. Matthew Urwin (Glasgow Warriors)
9. Hector Patterson (Edinburgh Rugby)

1. Oliver McKenna (Glasgow Warriors)
2. Seb Stephen (Glasgow Warriors)
3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby)
4. Dylan Cockburn (Glasgow Warriors)
5. Bart Godsell (Loughborough University)
6. Oliver Duncan (Edinburgh Rugby)
7. Freddy Douglas – co-captain (Edinburgh Rugby)
8. Reuben Logan (Northampton Saints)

Replacements

16. Joe Roberts (Glasgow Warriors)
17. Will Pearce (Cardiff Metropolitan University/Bristol Bears)
18. Jake Shearer (Glasgow Warriors)
19. Charlie Moss (Montpellier)
20. Mark Fyffe (University of Edinburgh)
21. Noah Cowan (Brunel University/Ealing Trailfinders)
22. Isaac Coates (Edinburgh Rugby)
23. Jack Hocking (unattached)