Only days after five former Scotland Under 20 players were named in Andy Robinson’s senior squad for the RBS Six Nations, a 40-strong group has been named to prepare for the season ahead which will climax with the IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa from 4-22 June.

Scotland Under 20 coach Peter Wright has selected a bigger group than in previous years to attend the camp at Murrayfield until 20 January, but is keen to give all the players a chance to impress the coaching team.

“It’s necessary to  bring together a bigger core group for the forthcoming Under 20s matches because of the quality of players we have in this age group,” explained Wright, in his second year as Scotland Under 20 coach.

“As well as bringing back seven players from last year’s squad, who will bring experience to the side, we are introducing a number of exciting young talents from Scotland Under 18 and Scotland Sevens.

“I’m keen to give as many of these players game time and a chance to impress.”

Relishing the challenge

Alex Allan, Mark Bennett, Mitch Eadie, Robin Hislop, Jamie Stevenson and Jamie Swanson all return from Scotland’s JWC 2011 squad, while two of their teammates – captain Duncan Weir and full back Stuart Hogg – have just been named in the senior training squad.

Scotland begin their Six Nations campaign against defending champions England at Firhill in Glasgow on 3 February, a side who beat them 56-8 in 2011. They then travel to Wales and host France before trips to Ireland and Italy.

The match against France will be one Scotland will be keen to do well in, given the sides will meet again in Pool C at the Junior World Championship. Scotland, who have never finished higher than ninth on the JWC stage, will also face Australia and Argentina.

“We’re really looking forward to the challenge that the Six Nations will bring, playing against some of the best talent at this level,” continued the former Scotland and British & Irish Lions prop.

“The competition will also help us work towards the Under 20s Rugby World Cup (IRB Junior World Championship) in South Africa later this year, where we will be up against the best teams in the world.”

Scotland Under 20 squad:

Forwards: Alex Allan (Loughborough Students), Russell Anderson (Gala), Adam Ashe (Stirling County), Jamie Bhatti (Stirling County), Will Bordill (Sale Sharks), Struan Cessford (Heriot's), Mitch Eadie (Bristol Rugby), Gary Graham (Gala), Johnny Gray (Hamilton), Alex Henderson (Boroughmuir), Robin Hislop (Edinburgh Rugby), Andrew Nagle (Jedforest), Andrew Redmayne (Dundee HSFP), Callum Reid (Edinburgh Accies), Gavin Robertson (Dundee HSFP), Fergus Scott (Currie), Adam Sinclair (Stirling County), Stuart Smith (Aberdeen Grammar), Tom Steven (Glasgow Hawks), Jamie Swanson (Boroughmuir), Callum Templeton (Ayr), George Turner (Stewart’s Melville).

Backs: Tommaso Allan (Western Province), Chris Auld (Gala), Mark Bennett (Clermont Auvergne), Jack Bradford (Nottingham Rugby), Michael Crawley (Boroughmuir), Jamie Farndale (Edinburgh Accies), Robbie Fergusson (Ayr), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Heriot's), Rory Hughes (Glasgow Hawks), Harris Jones (Boroughmuir), Harry Leonard (Edinburgh Rugby), Murray McConnell (Glasgow Warriors), Alistair Price (Bedford Blues), Finn Russell (Falkirk), Jack Steele (Dundee HSFP), Scott Steele (Leicester Tigers), Jamie Stevenson (London Scottish), Peter Stewart (Nudgee College Schoolboys).