The Future of Rugby: Scotland U23
With rugby on pause all over the globe for the foreseeable future, RugbyPass brings you a new series looking at the pick of U23 talent for the top eight ranked nations in the world, and we start with Scotland.
The lack of live coverage leaves little to do but look into the future and whilst the financial health of the game is in dire question currently, the array of talent ready to make the game their own over the next decade is certainly not.
We have compiled a XV of the players available to Scotland and for the purposes of these selections, all players must be 23 years of age or under on May 1st 2020.
- Blair Kinghorn, Edinburgh
A fine operator, Kinghorn would be a regular in this spot for Scotland already were it not for a certain Stuart Hogg. Nevertheless, he offers excellent cover for Hogg at the position, as well as an ability to play on the wing should it be required. Rufus McLean also waits in the wings, with the current U20 a player capable of making a significant impact in the coming years.
- Robbie Nairn, Glasgow Warriors
It hasn’t quite clicked for Nairn just yet, following stints at Harlequins and in the Scotland 7s side, but there is the core of a very effective player there. The Scottish player pool doesn’t run as deep as that of many of their rivals, so when a player as physically gifted as Nairn comes along, they need to make the most of it. The same goes for Edinburgh’s Jack Blain, too.
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- George Taylor, Edinburgh
Taylor is unlucky that outside centre is a position of particular strength for Scotland, where the likes of Rory Hutchinson, Huw Jones and Duncan Taylor all battle it out for playing time. Taylor is doing well at Edinburgh, though, and Gregor Townsend will hope that further exposure at that level sees the centre ready to step up to international rugby in the coming years.
- Stafford McDowall, Glasgow Warriors
A physical presence that doesn’t lack for ball skills at inside centre, McDowall is one of the success stories of the Scotland U20s in recent years, where unfortunately the age-grade side have suffered the ignominy of relegation to the World Rugby U20 Trophy. A little more seasoning at Glasgow and McDowall could quickly become a candidate for a senior cap.
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- Darcy Graham, Edinburgh
Like Kinghorn, this is an easy call, with Graham having excelled at club level in recent seasons and also shown that he is capable of making the leap to international rugby. Rapid, shifty and a competent reader of the game, Graham is frequently able to make his athletic ability tell in important and decisive moments in games.
- Adam Hastings, Glasgow Warriors
Hastings showed during the recent Guinness Six Nations that he is now ready to step up and compete with Finn Russell for the starting 10 jersey moving forward. He was consistently impressive in the wins over Italy and France, as well as performing well in the narrow losses to Ireland and England. If he continues to back himself moving forward, there’s no reason why he can’t make a case for usurping Russell in the pecking order.
- Jamie Dobie, Glasgow Warriors
There’s also Charlie Chapman, who played well in the U20s and is now beginning to take opportunities with Gloucester, but Dobie, who is in just his first year out of school, is a very special talent. The 18-year-old boasts a rounded skill set that is rare in someone so young and his vision and instincts on the pitch are as impressive as any of his age-grade contemporaries.
- George Thornton, Glasgow Warriors
Identified by the Scottish Exiles programme whilst studying at Moulton College, Thornton went on to sign a pro contract with Wasps, before making the move up to Glasgow last year. His opportunities have been few and far between for the Warriors so far, though both they and Townsend will be hoping that he can kick on and begin to push for more regular playing time.
- Ewan Ashman, Sale Sharks
Even as Scotland U20s were relegated from the World Rugby U20 Championship last season, Ashman was glimmer of hope in a disappointing season. The hooker’s lineout work was exceptional, and he barrelled his way over for a tournament-leading seven tries. Do not be surprised if Glasgow or Edinburgh make a concerted effort to bring him north of the border in the coming seasons.
- Adam Nicol, Glasgow Warriors
Nicol has done well to feature as much as he has behind the impressive Zander Fagerson and the 22-year-old is turning himself into a very able deputy for the Scotland incumbent. A year or two working with Petrus du Plessis certainly won’t be hurting his development, either.
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- Scott Cummings, Glasgow Warriors
A senior international already, Cummings’ selection here is an easy one. After shining at the U20 level, the lock stepped up well to senior duties with Glasgow and despite a wealth of options that includes the Gray brothers, Sam Skinner and Grant Gilchrist, Cummings has forged out opportunities and playing time in Townsend’s Scotland squad.
- Callum Hunter-Hill, Edinburgh
There are a few interesting names here, including Andrew Davidson, Alex Craig and Cameron Henderson, but it would not be surprising to see Hunter-Hill enjoy a breakout campaign in the 2020/21 season. He was a very good captain at the U20 level and will have learnt a lot on his season-long loan at Saracens, a side that have no short pedigree developing and producing second rows.
- Jamie Ritchie, Edinburgh
Like his club teammates Kinghorn and Graham before him, Ritchie’s inclusion here is an obvious one. Whilst recency bias will have people thinking of the punch he took from Mohamed Haouas in the 2020 Six Nations, what shouldn’t be forgotten are the abrasive and physical performances he had been putting in to warrant his place in that back row. A future Scotland captain?
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- Luke Crosbie, Edinburgh
Crosbie’s place is already under threat from another young talent in the form of Conor Boyle, but the elder player’s explosiveness and physicality could be something special. His form for Edinburgh has been excellent and recently won him a call-up to the Scotland training squad prior to the Six Nations. A debut cap could have come were it not for Hamish Watson standing in his way.
- Matt Fagerson, Glasgow Warriors
Like his older brother Zander, Fagerson’s rise from the age-grades to senior club involvement and a full Scotland cap was a meteoric one. He has shown an ability to influence the game in multiple ways and can be an option at club and international level at any position in the back row. He will have to keep his standards high, though, as Tom Dodd, Bruce Flockhart and Devante Onojaife will all be keen to show what they have to offer moving forward.
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s 12-15 games Luke. Ringrose has barely played in 2024 and Henshaw and Keenan have also been out for spells in the same time period. There are always injuries and for younger players to play with the likes of Barrett will be great for them. It’s just looking for negatives where there are none.
5 Go to commentsAndy Goode pushing his own agenda with very dubious considerations on refereeing performances. Luke Pearce speaking a bit of French doesn’t make him a good and adequate referee for the Champions Cup final; his latest refereeing performance in particular was not so great.
4 Go to commentsJordie knows that he has to earn the right to put on the jersey, whatever that jersey might be.
5 Go to commentsThe best outside centre in the world at one point. He will be greatly missed.
2 Go to commentsYip his great for the big moments when needed as a safa really enjoy watching him
4 Go to commentsOne that will start to come up from now on is penalties for back pushes during kick chase scrambles. Very difficult to detect. In Croke Park if you replay the Hendy NH try, you will see Furbank push Porter in the back, who collides with Larmour knocking the ball across into Hendy’s path to dot down. A more significant example was in the RWC QTR final where Arendse pushes Fickou into two other French players for the ball to spill into Arendse’s path for him to gather and run in to score SAs first try. Not cheating if you are not caught and very difficult to spot but with kicking becoming so critical I feel its an area that will referreeed/TMO-ed more.
4 Go to commentsWhat a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
116 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
2 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
4 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
4 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
116 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to comments