Rugby: Doubts over Taylor's international future

Published on Thursday 6 August 2009 10:17

A QUESTION was raised over the international rugby future of former Edinburgh star Simon Taylor today when the 29-year-old opted out of new coach Andy Robinson's first training squad.

There are eight uncapped players in the 44-strong party that will gather at St Andrews from August 17-19.

But it is the voluntary absence of 60 times capped Taylor, who plays for Stade Francais, that will raise most eyebrows.

Coach 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."

Seven of the eight uncapped players were part of the victorious Scotland A squad who captured the IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest in June – 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.

Completing the newcomers 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 four British and Irish Lions from the summer tour of South Africa – Mike Blair, Ross Ford, Nathan Hines and Euan Murray - will attend.

"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" said Robinson whose Autumn Test programme features Fiji, Argentina and Australia visiting Murrayfield in November.

Scotland training squad:

Backs – Mike Blair, Ben Cairns (both Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Thom Evans, Max Evans (both Glasgow Warriors), Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors), John Houston (Edinburgh), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Lamont (Toulon), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais), Jim Thompson (Edinburgh), Nikki Walker (Ospreys), Simon Webster (Edinburgh)

Forwards – John Barclay, Johnnie Beattie, Kelly Brown (all Glasgow Warriors), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Gray (Northampton Saints), Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors), Craig Hamilton, Jim Hamilton (both Edinburgh), Nathan Hines (Leinster), Allister Hogg, Allan Jacobsen (both Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Alan MacDonald, Scott MacLeod (both Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Northampton Saints), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Kyle Traynor (Edinburgh), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Jason White (Clermont Auvergne).