SCOTLAND could travel to Argentina for next month's two-Test tour without several key players who are involved in the French club championship.
The Scots are more or less resigned to losing Simon Taylor, who is needed by Stade Francais, while Nathan Hines of Perpignan and Scott Murray of Montauban are also doubts.
A 25-man squad was named yesterday, with five places left open as club for
m and fitness are monitored.
Three uncapped players have been selected – Edinburgh centre Ben Cairns, Glasgow wing Thom Evans, and his team-mate, prop Moray Low. Mike Blair will captain Scotland's bid for a first-ever Test victory in Argentina, with his predecessor Jason White already ruled out of the tour by injury.
Among those recent caps definitely out are Chris Cusiter, Craig Smith, Gavin Kerr, Fergus Thomson, Alastair Kellock and Rob Dewey, while question marks hang over Rory Lamont, Nikki Walker and Simon Webster because they are recovering from injury. Some of these players will find places in the Scotland A squad, to be announced today, that will take part in the Churchill Cup in Canada and Chicago on the same weekends as the full Test matches.
Though admitting he was still trying to prise some France-based players from their clubs, Hadden stated: "I'm delighted that the bulk of this squad will be home-based players, which is a reflection on the recent form of both of our professional teams and the quality of the development work which has gone on in our country over a number of years."
The full article contains 267 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
