Rugby: Tom Ryder in Scots squad after Fraser McKenzie injury

A SECOND product of the Leicester academy, Tom Ryder, has moved closer to a Scotland international debut after he was called up to the Six Nations squad for the injured Fraser McKenzie.

Sale lock-cum-flanker McKenzie suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder after an hour of the Sharks’ Amlin Challenge Cup match with Brive on Thursday night. He left the field in obvious pain, but speaking to The Scotsman yesterday was in better spirits.

He said: “I was absolutely devastated when I felt it go, going off knowing that would be me out of the Scotland squad. It’s horrible timing because I was so chuffed to get selected and was desperate to really push my hand up for selection in the Six Nations. I’m waiting for the scan results but it looks like a dislocated shoulder and possibly a tear, so will probably mean an operation and about three months’ recovery.

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“But I can’t let that get on top of me. Andy [Robinson] called me this morning and was disappointed for me, but he said ‘just get yourself fit and put yourself into contention for the summer tour’. There are no guarantees but that’s the target now.

“Everything else with the move to Sale has been great and I’m definitely improving as a player. The physicality is brutal down here and you learn from that. I’m enjoying it.”

The door opens, however, for Ryder who made the move the other way, impressing Glasgow on trial from Saracens before moving up permanently last year.

The 26-year-old was born in Nottingham and represented England at under-16 level while coming through the academy at Leicester, but has a Glaswegian father, and he has become a key figure in 35 league and cup appearances for the Warriors.

Ryder, who joins another Leicester product, Jim Hamilton, and Glasgow team-mates Richie Gray and Al Kellock, as recognised locks in the Scots Six Nations squad, has also proven himself with Scotland ‘A’ in wins over the USA and Italy.

He said: “I’m delighted and proud to have received the call-up. First and foremost, my focus is on helping Glasgow Warriors win tomorrow’s massive Heineken Cup match in Bath, but I’m really looking forward to joining up with the rest of the Scotland squad, putting in a lot of hard work and challenging for a place.”