Scotland Rugby return to action this autumn as part of the Bank Of Scotland Corporate Autumn Test Series, Scotland RFU will face South Africa on Saturday 17th November, kick-off 1500, at Murrayfield they then take on the boys from down under South Africa on Saturday 17th November 2012, kick-off 14:30 and finish off the Autumn International Test Series with a game against Australia on Saturday 23 November, kick-off
Scotland coach Andy Robinson OBE has today named eight uncapped players in a 44-strong squad for a Scotland training camp at St Andrews later this month.
Seven of the eight were part of the victorious Scotland A squad who captured the IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest in June – namely centre/wing John Houston, openside flanker Alan MacDonald, full-back Jim Thompson and loose-head prop Kyle Traynor (all Edinburgh), stand-off Ruaridh Jackson and No 8 Richie Vernon (both Glasgow Warriors) and the Worcester Warriors and Scottish Exiles centre Alex Grove.
Scotland Autumn International Fixtures
9 November 2013 Murrayfield Scotland v Japan 14:30
17 November 2013 Murrayfield Scotland v South Africa 15:00
23 November 2013 Murrayfield Scotland v Australia 18:00
Robinson congratulates Richie Vernon who ensured Scotland’s success at the IRB Nations Cup with the only try in the final.
Completing the newcomers for the camp from 17-19 August will be Richie Gray, the 6ft 9ins, 19st 9lbs, 19-year-old Glasgow Warriors lock, who played in all ten of Scotland under-20’s international matches last season.
The squad also includes the four Scots who were involved in the British and Irish Lions summer tour of South Africa – Mike Blair, Ross Ford, Nathan Hines and Euan Murray.
Missing from the squad is the 60-times-capped back-row forward Simon Taylor (Stade Francais) who turns 30 on the first-day of the camp.
Robinson said: “I have spoken at length with Simon and he has requested not to be involved with Scotland at this stage. I am agreeing to his request but the door remains open for Simon to be involved with Scotland at a later stage and I will be monitoring his form over the next few months.”
Robinson regards the camp as integral to setting the tone ahead of Scotland’s opening matches of the season – the Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Tests against Fiji, Australia and Argentina at Murrayfield in November.
He said: “It’s good to have a three-day get-together before the season starts where we will discuss our objectives and how we are going to work together. Our themes will be developing leadership, game understanding and improving individual skills and fitness.”
He explained that any player not chosen in this squad could still be involved in the Autumn Tests.
