SRU chiefs pick 15 as elite development players

THE SRU has selected 15 new recruits – seven to Edinburgh Rugby and eight to Glasgow Warriors – as elite development players for the new season.

Scotland Under-20 captain Tommy Spinks is among the new names. Picture: PA

The newcomers include Scotland Under-20 captain Tommy Spinks, who returns north from London Scottish after recently leading the national age-grade side to tenth in the IRB Junior World Championships in New Zealand.

Also picked are three of the George Watson’s College side which won the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Under-18 Cup – captain Ally Miller and team-mates Jake Kerr and Ben Robbins.

Glenn Bryce – brother of recently-capped Warriors and Scotland hooker Kevin Bryce and a former Scotland Under-20 cap who has played for both Jersey and Doncaster – has also been snapped up along with No 8 turned prop Callum Sheldon, plucked from Kirby Lonsdale in Cumbria.

Two more players are likely to be announced in the near future and both will be aligned to Edinburgh Rugby.

Stephen Gemmell, Scottish Rugby’s Head of Performance Development, said: “Elite development players, aligned to our pro-clubs, work very hard to progress from aspiring professional players to, in some cases, the real deal.

“You just need to look at Matt Scott and Dougie Fife at Edinburgh Rugby or Jonny Gray and Adam Ashe at Glasgow Warriors as examples of what players who really commit to the programme can go on to achieve.

“This coming year all of Scottish rugby will look for these talented youngsters to make the step up, once again under the tutelage of Bryan Easson at Edinburgh and Iain Monaghan at Glasgow, working in tandem with coaches in the BT Premiership.”

Elite Development Players aligned to Edinburgh Rugby:

Props: Rory Sutherland* (Gala), Callum Sheldon* (Queen Elizabeth School/Newcastle Falcons) and Ewan McQuillin (Gala).

Hooker: Jake Kerr* (George Watson’s College/Watsonians).

Back-row forwards: Ally Miller* (George Watson’s College/Watsonians) and Magnus Bradbury (Boroughmuir).

Scrum-halves: Alex Glashan (Edinburgh Accies) and Hugh Fraser*(Merchiston Castle School).

Centre: Chris Auld (Gala).

Wing: Ben Robbins* (George Watson’s College).

Full-back: Ruaridh Howarth*(Galashiels Academy/Gala).

Elite Development Players aligned to Glasgow Warriors:

Props: D’arcy Rae (Ayr), Zander Fagerson* (Glasgow Hawks) and Cameron Fenton* (Strathallan School/Howe of Fife).

Hookers: Fergus Scott and James Malcolm* (both Ayr).

Locks: Andy Redmayne (Glasgow Hawks), Scott Cummings* and Andrew Davidson* (both Kelvinside Academy/Glasgow Hawks).

Back-row: Tommy Spinks* (London Scottish) and Matt Smith* (Stirling County).

Scrum-half: Ali Price (Stirling County).

Stand-off: Gavin Lowe (Glasgow Hawks).

Centres: Jack Steele and Neil Herron (both Glasgow Hawks)

Full-back: Glenn Bryce* (Doncaster)

*Denotes new player for season 2014-15