Rugby: Atkin and Seydak to feature for under-20s

Edinburgh Accies winger Sam Atkin will make his first Scotland under-20 start when Italy are confronted at Stirling tonight.

Set to make his debut from off the bench is Heriot's back rower Lawrie Seydak in a match where Scotland will be hoping for a boost by breaking their championship duck ahead of this summer's under-20 world championships in Italy.

Covering prop will be Nick Fraser, who is listed for similar duty in Boroughmuir's Scottish Cup quarter-final against Dundee tomorrow. Coach Peter Wright believes Atkin has earned his chance and said: "Sam has come on a number of times and run hard; he's a guy who challenges defences. Again in light of the IRB Junior World Championship, we need to see what he can do over a longer period, and it will also be good for Lawrie to get an idea of what's required at this level.

"He trained with us the week before the England game and really impressed us with his work rate and his size. He's an openside, but has the ability to slot into any of the back-row positions, and versatility is something we'll need to take into account come June."

Scotland: Glenn Bryce (Heriot's), Mike Doneghan (Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County), Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors/Ayr), Harry Leonard (Edinburgh/Boroughmuir), Sam Atkin (Edinburgh Accies), Stuart Edwards (Stirling County), Jamie Stevenson (Westcombe Park), Robin Hislop (Edinburgh/Boroughmuir), David Cherry (Team Northumbria), George Hunter (Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow Hawks, captain), Mitch Eadie (Filton College), Robert McAlpine (West of Scotland), Alex Spence (Heriot's), James Tyas (Bath), Hamish Watson (Leicester Tigers). Subs: Richard Ferguson (Melrose), Nick Fraser (Boroughmuir), Mitchell Todd (Nottingham), Lawrie Seydak (Heriot's), James Munro (Edinburgh Accies), Craig Jackson (Melrose), Kerr Gossman (Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow Hawks).