Dundee-born Dean Kelbrick set to get back to his Scottish roots

When a player born in Dundee was one of eight new faces named in the Scotland club international squad this week for Friday's match against France in Orleans, not many people batted an eyelid.

However, if you delve deeper then you find out that Glasgow Hawks centre Dean Kelbrick was born in Dundee, South Africa - a coal mining town in KwaZulu-Natal - and that he qualifies for Scotland due to his mother, who was born in Motherwell. The 25-year-old was something of an unknown to most north of the Border when he arrived at Old Anniesland from Darlington Mowden Park last summer.

He has since impressed with his form in Premier One as Hawks have mounted a title challenge and was delighted when he got the call-up by head coach Ally Donaldson to train with the club international squad. Kelbrick said: "It is brilliant to have been selected in the squad for the France match and I am really looking forward to heading out there and playing against them. You are never quite sure what you are going to get from French teams, but whatever we face it will be a test and we will have to be at our best."

Kelbrick may be a new boy to the club international scene - along with Hawks team mates Eric Milligan and Nick Campbell, Ayr duo Ross Curle and Rob Colhoun, Mathew Scott and Tom Brown of Currie and Andy Dymock of Dundee - but they will not need to look far for an experienced team mate.

Ten of the squad played in the 13-9 win over the French last year, while Currie pair Richard Snedden and Ross Weston are both in line to win their seventh caps at this level. From last year's squad James King went on to win a full-time contract with Edinburgh, while Fraser Harkness, Mark Cairns and James Fleming have earned Scotland Sevens call-ups.

As a result a number of players in this year's pool - coached by Donaldson and Ayr's Peter Laverie - will see this match as an opportunity to show they have got what it takes to step up a level.

The starting line-up is yet to be named, but the link-up between Kelbrick and Dundee HSFP'S Harry Duthie should be interesting, while Ayr's Rob Colhoun adds even more physicality to the back-row.

Scotland Club International Dates

Friday, 4 February: v France (Orleans, 6pm GMT). Friday, 11 March: v Ireland (Netherdale, 7.30pm)

Forwards: Rob Colhoun, Andy Dunlop, Damien Kelly, Gordon Reid (all Ayr), Finlay Gillies, Ross Weston (both Currie), Alan Brown (Dundee), Nick Campbell, Rory McKay, Eric Milligan (all Glasgow Hawks), Alan Dymock (Heriot's), John Dalziel (Melrose).

Backs: Ross Curle (Ayr), Richard Snedden, Tom Brown, Dougie Fife, Matt Scott (all Currie), Harry Duthie, Andy Dymock (both Dundee), Dean Kelbrick (Glasgow Hawks), Scott Wight, Fraser Thomson (both Melrose).