RugbyRebels

I don't have much inside knowledge but thought I'd share a link to this very informative post.

https://www.glasgowwarriors.com/phpbb/v ... start=1480

It supports my impression that a lot more u20s are getting premiership (as in amateur Scottish premiership) experience than in previous years. OBL is the only one with serious pro experience but a reasonably promising crop. The one everyone is excited about is Jake Dalziel (John Dalziel's son, who plays 10), but he is still u18 I think so this year may be too early.

Here is the post for those of you who don't like links (though I recommend having a look at the forum every now and then - a very activr club forum).

Thought id do a wee update on the U20s, as I think the squad could be fairly interesting this year for a few reasons. Firstly, with emerging Scotland and Scotland U19s playing a few games over the last year the coaches have had a chance to look at a wider group of players. Secondly, for whatever reason the clubs in the Premiership seem to have notably upper their numbers in terms of U20 qualified players, where id estimate there might be close to 90 guys all with some level of playing time. Another positive is that key positions that we have struggled with in the past such as tighthead and flyhalf have quite a lot options for once in a while.

Loosehead
Glasgow Pro Academy player Oli McKenna was to the go-to last year, and still eligible this year, and has turned out a few times for GHA this season, I would expect him to be in the 23. Seems to have shifted away from hooker and focusing on loosehead now. Edinburgh Pro Academy Jamie Stewart can play both sides, and if OBL is called up to the mens squad, he would likely start at tighthead, not quite as massive as OBL, but still a bit of a unit. Exiles Billy Kerslake and Will Pearce have also both had opportunities with the U20/U19s and will be in the mix. When this group were at U18s Lochlan Hodge was the starter and is playing regularly for GHA this season. U19 players Jake Paton (Ayr) and Logan Hendrie (Marr) may also be in the mix looking to develop for the following year. U18 player Zak Burgess has also made a few appearances for GHA.

Hooker
Last year’s first choice Joe Roberts is still eligible and while named on the bench for a Warriors game, didn’t actually get on the pitch, but still looks an exciting prospect, and I expert him to start. Jack Utterson (U19) moved to the Edinburgh Pro Academy after a great first season with Kelso and has continued where he left off. The final spot is could to go to either Jamie McAughtrie who has had a fair few games with Ayr this year or a U10 player such as Dan Casserly (U19) who is a regular starter with Stirling, or Boyd Cooper who is playing regularly with watsonians. Utterson and Casserly can also cover the back row well.

Tighthead
OBL is the obvious choice, and I hope we do include him, as his size, ability and experience will be massive for the team. But there is obviously the chance he could be needed for the men’s team, I just hope the U20s are denied his services for him to hold tackle bags. Without him, I would expect Jamie Stewart to start. Exile Myles Lister has been around the squad and played in a couple of the development games. Looking to the future and Oli Anderson (U19) has also been in these squads, and playing occasionally at Melrose, while U18 Max Morrison was a regular with Hawks, and played well, during the first half of the season, which is pretty impressive.

Lock
Last year both Dan Halkon (Glgasow) and Christian Lindsay (Edinburgh) looked like they could become good players. Lindsay was deployed at 6, but was still U18 at the time, and expect him to move to lock full time given his size. Sam Byrd has moved up to Edinburgh and would be another option, who also has played a bit at blindside. Mac Rutherford is in the Edinburgh Pro Academy, but ive not seen too much of him play, while Finn Ronnie (Watsonians) and Aidan Orr (Hawks) have been included in development squads and are both regulars in the Premiership. Exiles Anothony McCormack and Henry Black have been around the squad and would also be in with a shout of making the squad. U18 prospect James Dalrymple played for Edinburgh in the Inter-District-Championship recently and looked a prospect in the Open Comp, but probably too young at this point. U19 Will Lockhart who is a regular for Boroughmuir and Scotland U18s last year might be a better option if looking to include a young player for development.

Backrow
St Andrews student Oliver Finlason-Russell was the only member of last years squad that is still eligible this year. While there are a number of options in the backrow, there are only two Pro Academy players, Rory Purvis and Archie McMichael, both at Glasgow. Assuming McMichael’s fitness, you’d expect both to be included. Purvis looks a really physical player from what ive seen of him. We might see quite a young back row, with U19 player Harry Jackaman (Watsonians) and Harvey Preston (Hawks) both having great seasons and two stand out options at 7 and 8. Joe Lloyd (Cardiff Met) and Seth Roberts (Stade Aurillacois) are two of the exile options in the back row. In addition, McPhail recipient Oli Furness has been with the squad previously and playing regularly for Melrose either at lock or blindside. I also like the look of another Melrose player Zander Mactaggart, who also plays for Loughborough, while Stirling County number 8 Logan Gray played in the U19 games in the summer against England and Italy.

Scrum Half
Edinburgh Pro Academy player Hamish MacArthur is in pole-position here, having played in last year’s Six Nations, however he will be pushed by Adam McKenzie (U19) who has cemented his place as the starting 9 at Watsonians. Hamish MacArthur splits the 9 jersey with U19 Struan Talac at Heriots, who has had some impact of the bench this season in the games ive seen. While U18 player Cammy McGarey has already made the back-up 9 spot at Ayr his, which is impressive in such a strong team.

Fly Half
As said, we look to have a bit of depth at fly half over the next few years at U20 level with a number of options impressing. Ross Wolfenden is the most experienced given he backed-up Matthew Urwin last year, although I have seen him tried out at 12 and 15 for both club and country recently. Callum Jessop (U19) who was previously a 12 or 15 has burst onto the scene as a 10 at Heriots and looks promising, while U18 Jake Dalziel (son of John) is one of the most promising 10s ive seen for a while, looked great in the School’s Cup Final in 2024 while only being 16, continued that form into the new Open Competition, and has recently become Melrose’s first choice fly half, but missed the game at the weekend due to training with the U20s. His opponent in the Schools Cup was Howie Offord (U19) now of St Andrews, who I thought also looked like a talent. In the recent development match, Felix Champain of Quins and previously England U18, started and is likely to be in the squad, while another exile Freddie Drake-Lee has previously been involved, although I believe he is more of a 12 who can fill in at 10. There is also Henry Widdowson who was the first choice at the U18s Six Nations and now in the Pro Academy at Edinburgh and Ben MacDougall who was his back up. I liked the look of Bruce Weatherhead who was starting at 17 for Musselburgh last season, but not sure where he is this year, meanwhile the other U18 options behind Dalziel Robson and Anderson looks exciting too, but too early for that pari at the moment.

Centre
Pro Academy players Alex Bryden (Glasgow), Henry Kesterton (Edinburgh) and Sam Leweni (Edinburgh) will likely been involved, although ive not seen Leweni play much recently so might be injured. Bryden has looked good in what ive seen of him at GHA, a powerful hard running centre, and despite Kesterton only being U19, is a regular at Heriots. Bryden’s teammate at GHA Nicky Thompson looks great with ball in hand, but might be suited better to wing, and could be an outside bet. Campbell Waugh was in last years squad and is still eligible, where he has shared the 13 jersey at Hawks this year with younger brother Murray (U18) and David Barrie (U19). Might be a year too early for Murray, but Barrie is a versatile player who can also play 15 and 10 and has looked good. Another U19 player Harry Clark has gone well this year and starts most games for Watsonians, while Brodie Allan has been looking great for the past couple of seasons at Selkirk. Cameron Gettingby of Currie was also included recently in a development squad, and can also cover wing. Exiles possibly included could be Freddie Drake-Lee (Swansea Uni), Ben Firth (Sale), Joe Taylor (Quins) and Will Corbett (Bath), the latter two the starters for the U18s last year.

Back Three
Nairn Moncreiff was first choice in last years Six Nations, and if fit, will like be again, as he played pretty well. While Glasgow Pro Academy player Harry Provan should also be in the squad, although again, ive not seen him playing recently and may also be injured. Mitchell Newell formerly of Quins has moved north to attend Strathclyde Uni and was in the recent development team, while Rory Brogan has looked very existing over the last couple of year and has nailed down a starting spot at Heriots and looked good, although disappointingly is not part of the Pro Academy. Rory McHaffie (U19) is part of the Edinburgh Academy and has been playing with Melrose and GB7s this season and would be an option for full back. Daniel Kelly and Max Garry both U19 and both of Watsonains have been in great scoring form this season and are sure to be in the mix. Barrie might be included as a full back instead of centre if selected and I note Jessop, Widdowson and Wolfenden have also been used there. Jamie Thomson (St Andrews Uni) and Elloitt Southworth (Quins) were both regulars for the U18s a couple of season ago and if fit could be in the squad

Apologies for the overly long post, just wanted to make folk aware that the U20s and development programme get some stick, but I feel like there has been an effort to get game time and experience for a wider group of players recently and hopefully it bodes well. That being said, we’ll likely loose all games and get the wooden spoon, but at least its nice to have hope, however misguided it is.

https://scottishrugby.org/news-and-feat ... x-nations/

much as forecasted in that post above

I suppose the most interesting thing from that is that Dalziel is in at only 17. Wonder if he'll get gametime.

Seem to be more out of the club game and fewer full time academy players and exiles.

Beat Italy 10-36. Dalziel played well and controlled the game very well for a young lad. Forwards fronted up well. A few lineout wobbles that they sorted. Some great tries from forwards and backs. McHaffie has some serious wheels. A good start to their campaign.

Yeah, great win. Dalziel didn't look out of place at all. Loves a chip but, to be fair to him, most of them came off.

Moncrieff on the other wing also impressive (and looks physical) though he did butcher a try.

Forwards carried well. Utterson at 7 (primarily a hooker) is another young gun who showed up well. So did Roberts outside the lineout plus the 8.

couple of changes this week
Kesterton has had ankle surgery so misses rest of 6N
Wolfenden (captain) replaces him at 12
Stewart moves to LH with OBL again at TH. Roberts in between them, thats a pretty sizeable front row

Would be nice to see them be at least competitive and build on last week. It does feel like we have a physically capable and talented squad with mmore adut rugby experience than in recent times.

Of course almost all that adult rugby is at amateur level, so it'll be a challenge to even get close against a strong England team with lots of pro experience in there.

Lost 33-17 in the end after being 17-19 down at half time. Kick chase was a real issue as was the lineout and definitely tired in the last 20, but plenty of good signs too. Shame they couldn't at least get the fourth try for a bonus point.

Interesting interview with Blythe-Lafferty on The Offside Line with some chat about working on his carrying and contact work. He was then used as a carrier a lot in this game. That will determine if he is a very solid tight head or something really special.

Cameo wrote: ↑Sat Feb 14, 2026 3:22 am Lost 33-17 in the end after being 17-19 down at half time. Kick chase was a real issue as was the lineout and definitely tired in the last 20, but plenty of good signs too. Shame they couldn't at least get the fourth try for a bonus point.

Interesting interview with Blythe-Lafferty on The Offside Line with some chat about working on his carrying and contact work. He was then used as a carrier a lot in this game. That will determine if he is a very solid tight head or something really special.

.
I think OBL is already more than solid. At U20 level he is special.
At his age he will have works ons of course.
Last night a bit of a learning curve for Dalziel, didn't come so easily and his kicking led to some of england's tries. The chase might have been better sure, but kicking to the Eng full back once and giving him plenty of time was maybe unlucky. Doing it 2 or 3 times was suicidal. Ditto McArthur (who is the best 9 at Edinburgh) with his box kicks. Eng full back was on fire, missed nothing in the air while our smaller wingers had no chance.
were behind from the start, partly because the ref got in the way of our defence at the scrum for their 9 to break unopposed, and their very big pack always got over the gainline in carries
On the plus side, we outscrummed them, and unlike the last few years, we can compete with England. Lot of good prospects coming through, mainly for Edinburgh. Oh dear

ouch
lost to Wales, really poor show. No coherence

Yeah, was a bit poor. Tactically, didn't seem to adapt on a very windy night. Even with that, they weren't a million miles off winning, just too many errors.

Scrum struggled, which was a surprise, but we can't expect dominance everytime and the props will learn how to adapt to different opponents.

Cameo wrote: ↑Sat Feb 21, 2026 4:35 am Yeah, was a bit poor. Tactically, didn't seem to adapt on a very windy night. Even with that, they weren't a million miles off winning, just too many errors.

Scrum struggled, which was a surprise, but we can't expect dominance everytime and the props will learn how to adapt to different opponents.

scrum didn't really struggle. A few knowledgeable folk saying the Welsh were not taking the hit. Wales did that years back and got away with it, same last night. Back off and the opposing prop either follows (and inexperienced or poor ref says early shove) or don't follow and face plant (and inexperienced or poor ref says collapsing)
Ref was conned, we did not adapt

Reminded me, not in a good way, of the "Adam Jones" years..

Tobylerone wrote: ↑Sat Feb 21, 2026 1:29 pm Reminded me, not in a good way, of the "Adam Jones" years..

exactly

septic 9 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 21, 2026 10:29 am

Cameo wrote: ↑Sat Feb 21, 2026 4:35 am Yeah, was a bit poor. Tactically, didn't seem to adapt on a very windy night. Even with that, they weren't a million miles off winning, just too many errors.

Scrum struggled, which was a surprise, but we can't expect dominance everytime and the props will learn how to adapt to different opponents.

scrum didn't really struggle. A few knowledgeable folk saying the Welsh were not taking the hit. Wales did that years back and got away with it, same last night. Back off and the opposing prop either follows (and inexperienced or poor ref says early shove) or don't follow and face plant (and inexperienced or poor ref says collapsing)
Ref was conned, we did not adapt

Think that's basically what I meant by struggling. Opposition play games, ref buys it, we don't adapt. No good spending years saying we are better than the opposition while they get the penalties.

All a learning experience.