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30 Players Contracted to Academy

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Scottish Rugby today confirmed the 30 young male players contracted to the FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy for the 2021/2022 season.

All Contracted Academy players are evenly aligned to Glasgow Warriors or Edinburgh Rugby, enabling them to train daily with professional players and coaches, in turn helping them accelerate their development by being immersed in the pro-team club environment earlier and more often in their careers.

In doing so it creates a regular and closer association for talented emerging players and puts them under the eye of their respective pro-team Head Coaches.

Whilst based in the pro-team environment, the players will continue to receive individualised academy support through dedicated age-grade specialist coaches, strength and conditioning personnel and physios, who will have responsibility to ensure the continued development of these players.

As well as pro-team alignment, all players also have a FOSROC Super6 team to enable further training and playing opportunities.

Of the 30 young men named as Contracted Academy players last year, 12 played for a pro-team in the 2020-2021 season, four for Glasgow Warriors and eight for Edinburgh Rugby. Five of those players have signed pro-deals with either Edinburgh or Glasgow for the coming season.

Some 18 of the players announced today have been retained from last year, while 16 of the 30 were part of the 2021 Scotland U20 Six Nations squad.

In this intake there are 12 new players who have signed as Contracted Academy players for the first time.

As the Contracted Academy players are aligned with the pro-teams, it creates an opportunity for the FOSROC Regional Academies to bring in more supported Regional Academy players, who will continue to be selected to one of the four regional Academy hubs in the Glasgow & the West, Edinburgh, Borders & East Lothian and Caledonia.

Scottish Rugby’s Director of Performance Jim Mallinder said: “Last year was the first time that the Contracted Academy players were aligned with the professional teams.

“Even with the challenges that Covid-19 has provided, a number of young players were able to gain valuable experience in the pro-team environment.

“To have 12 new additions who will be able to benefit from the support that the FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy provides is fantastic.”

The 30 players aligned to Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby for the 2021/22 season are:

Glasgow Warriors (15 players)

Jamie Drummond – Ayrshire Bulls**
Alex Samuel – Ayrshire Bulls*
Rory Jackson – Ayrshire Bulls*
Christian Townsend – Ayrshire Bulls**
Finlay Callaghan – Ayrshire Bulls*
Robbie McCallum – Boroughmuir Bears*
Gregor Brown – Boroughmuir Bears*
Michael Gray – Boroughmuir Bears*
Rhys Tait – Boroughmuir Bears**
Euan Ferrie – Boroughmuir Bears**
Murphy Walker – Stirling County*
Angus Fraser – Stirling County*
Max Williamson – Stirling County*
Euan Cunningham – Stirling County*
Ross McKnight – Stirling County**

Edinburgh Rugby (15 players)

Ben Evans – Heriot’s Rugby**
Matt Russell – Heriot’s Rugby**
Michael Jones – Heriot’s Rugby**
Dan Gamble – Heriot’s Rugby*
Jamie Campbell – Heriot’s Rugby**
Nathan Sweeny – Southern Knights*
Jacob Henry – Southern Knights*
Cameron Scott – Southern Knights*
Patrick Harrison – Southern Knights*
Harri Morris – Southern Knights**
Harry Paterson – Watsonians Rugby*
Cole Lamberton – Watsonians Rugby**
Rudi Brown – Watsonians Rugby**
Matt Currie – Watsonians Rugby*
Roan Frostwick – Watsonians Rugby*

* Retained FOSROC Scottish Rugby Contracted Academy player from 2020/2021
** New FOSROC Scottish Rugby Contracted Academy player

Scottish Rugby Academy Players
Contracted Academy players Harry Paterson (Edinburgh) and Alex Samuel (Glasgow Warriors) (credit: SNS/Scottish Rugby)

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.