The FOSROC Future XV can expect a baptism of fire when they make their Super Series Championship debut against the Southern Knights at the Greenyards.
Head coach Scott Lawson’s squad of 29 for the competition includes 13 players who are currently on World Rugby Trophy duty with the Scotland Under-20s in Kenya, and who will be unavailable until round four.
The remainder of the youthful squad will be augmented for their first three outings by loan players from either other Super Series teams or from Premiership clubs. It would be fair to expect, then, that the new side will take some time to gel, but Lawson believes the experience will be beneficial.
“It’s a great opportunity for these young guys to come into the system and really see what the premier competition in Scottish rugby is about,” he said. “The main thing for us [as coaches] is how well the players adapt and overcome the challenges of the other six teams.”
Tonight’s other match sees Boroughmuir Bears, who this week announced a long-term kit supply deal with Gilbert Rugby, take on Heriot’s at Meggetland. Heriot’s will be slight favourites to get off to a winning start after reaching the final of the Sprint competition in the spring, but their head coach Ben Cairns expects a tough contest.
“Away to the Bears is a huge test first up,” he said. “They are such a cohesive group and are always very hard to overcome and we know they will be massively motivated to get off to a good start too.”
The first round of fixtures will be completed tomorrow when Ayrshire Bulls welcome Watsonians to Millbrae. The Edinburgh club won the Championship last season, but the Bulls, who finished top of the heap in 2021, are favourites to reclaim their crown after winning the Sprint.
