Rugby: Scots set up home friendly with Japan A

SCOTLAND'S rugby side will prepare for their summer tour of Argentina with a home game against Japan A at the beginning of June, it was confirmed today.

An SRU spokesman said suitable venues around the country were under consideration for a match that would also allow the Scots to build on momentum gained from an away win over Ireland at the end of the RBS Six nations championship.

"We are in the final stages of arranging this fixture with Japan A which will not necessarily be at Murrayfield. Venues around the country are being looked at for a match during the first week of June," the spokesman said.

The Scots are due to face the Pumas at a provincial venue on 12 June followed by a second Test in Mar del Plata a week later.

It is inconceivable that caps would be awarded against the Japanese A team since the last meeting between the countries in 2004 ended in a 100-8 victory at McDiarmid Park, Perth.

Nevertheless, the Scots will doubtless find it a useful exercise in fine-tuning a squad many of whom, hopefully, will have been kept match sharp by an extended run to the Magners Celtic League play-offs.