Rugby: Niven looks to New Zealand after Accies reach cup semis

Published on Friday 17 April 2009 09:48

NEW ZEALAND-BOUND prop forward Lewis Niven is facing a hectic few months after helping Edinburgh Accies reach the semi-final of the Scottish Hydro Electric national knock-out cup with a 28-21 victory over Selkirk at Philiphaugh last night.

There will scarcely be a dull moment for the 20-year-old national academy prospect between now and next season after being awarded a scholarship that will see him fly out to join the crack Auckland University club on May 14.

Before then, Niven is in line to help Accies reach their second final in three years when they come up against the winners of tomorrow's Boroughmuir-Heriot's tie in the semis.

Niven, who came off the bench in a quarter-final win based on tries by Matt Coupar, Nick Lah and Tom Drennan, with Mike Campbell adding three penalties and two conversions, said: "This will be the second time I've been fortunate to play club rugby in New Zealand.

"Immediately after leaving Trinity Academy I accompanied Joe Edwards (then Accies' development officer) to the Te Amutu club in Waikato.

"It was a great experience which helped me appreciate different styles of rugby; everyone was encouraged to carry the ball a lot more out there.

"What also helped was the fact that Te Amutu had a prop who returned from playing Super 14 provincial rugby and he was happy to let me pick his brains about technique."

Others who have made the identical scholarship trip to Niven include Scotland flanker John Barclay. Niven said: "I'm training every day with the national academy and in trying to gain a professional contract it is encouraging that I'll be following in the footsteps of the likes of John Barclay and (new Edinburgh flanker) Roddy Grant."

At Auckland University former Scotland under-19 and 20 cap Niven will be linking up with a club that has produced a string of All Blacks including World Cup winner Sean Fitzpatrick while Lions and Scotland captain Gavin Hastings also had a spell there.

Meanwhile, to reach the Cup semi-final Accies had to claim Selkirk's 19-month unbeaten home record after overturning an early deficit.

They led from the 19th minute and Ian Barnes, the Accies coach, said: "I thought we deserved the win. We played the full 80 minutes and were very committed at the breakdown, took our chances and kicked our goals."

SCOTLAND flanker Ally Strokosh will miss Gloucester's EDF Energy Cup Final with Cardiff tomorrow and is doubtful for this summer's Lions tour after undergoing tests on a nerve related shoulder/neck injury known in the game as a "stinger".

The Lions squad will be named on Tuesday.