Extended Club XV Squad Announced

YESTERDAY'S announcement of the extended Club XV squad, to prepare for the Dalriada Cup double header against the Irish, in February, is one of those harbingers of the international season.

It also gives those of us who are not swept up in the somewhat false hype of the 1872 Cup something to consider at a time of year when there is not a lot to talk about in the mad world of Scottish Rugby.

Rob Chrystie - again coaches the Club XV

Wee Rob Chrystie of Melrose is again tasked with drumming the disparate recruits from the Premiership clubs into a cohesive unit, in the hope of hanging onto the rather impressive silverware. In this onerous task, he will be assisted by Hawks' Fin Gilies and Phil Smith of Heriot's.

The extended squad of 34 reads:

Forwards:Sean Muir (Hawick), Steven Longwell (Ayr), Struan Cessford (Heriot’s), Ross Dunbar (Boroughmuir), Ross Graham (Watsonians), Russell Anderson (Melrose), Blair Macpherson (Ayr), Jamie Hodgson (Watsonians), Ian Moody (Melrose), Callum Atkinson (Boroughmuir), Hamilton Burr (Stirling), Ruaridh Leishman (Heriot’s), Grant Runciman (Melrose), Ian Wilson, Jack McLean (Heriot’s), Neil Irvine-Hess (Melrose), Tommy Spinks (Ayr), Thomas Gordon (Currie).

Backs:Andrew Simmers (Heriot’s), David Armstrong (Ayr), Murdo McAndrew (Melrose), Gregor Hunter (Currie), Frazier Climo (Ayr), Lee Armstrong (Hawick), Craig Jackson (Melrose), Robbie Nelson (Currie), Ewan McGarvie (Stirling), Danny McCluskey (Ayr), Craig Gossman (Boroughmuir), Fraser Thomson (Melrose), Jordan Edmonds (Boroughmuir), Kyle Rowe (Ayr), Ben Robbins, Jamie Forbes (Currie).

Table-topping Ayr has seven players named, Boroughmuir provide four of the squad, there are five Currie Chieftains selected. Hawick has two players named, while Assistant Coach Smith brings five of his Goldenacre gang to the party. Head Coach Chrystie is joined by seven of his Melrose squad, Stirling County has two representatives, with Watsonians also supplying two players.

 Fraser Thomson - looking to extend his Club XV caps record

Edinburgh Academical and Glasgow Hawks are the only Premiership clubs not to have a player chosen in a squad which is a mix of youth and experience. Fraser Thomson of Melrose, for instance, is looking to add to his record haul of Club XV caps. He has already played in 14 of the 23 internationals Scotland has played at this level, while his team mate, hooker Russell Anderson, Boroughmuir's Craig Gossman and prop Struan Cessford of Heriot's are other players whose names are hardy annuals on the squad list.

Two of the younger guns, locks Callum Atkinson of 'Muir and Jamie Hodgson of Watsonians have already tasted the big time, being called-up by Edinburgh during their locking crisis over the Autumn International period.

Frazier Climo - on the verge of joining the ranks of the Kilted Kiwis

There is a first call-up too for Ayr's experienced fly half Frazier Climo, who, having already played for Taranaki back home and Scarlets in the PRO12 is no stranger to pressure rugby. Could he yet join the ranks of the “Kilted Kiwis” by being chosen for either of the Dariada Cup games? The first leg is at Myreside, on 1 February, before the return leg, at Energia Park, as Leinster's home in Donnybrook, Dublin, is now known, a week later.

Looking forward, it will be interesting to see if, once S6 kicks-in, an expansion in Club XV internationals. The French, Welsh and England Counties fixtures appear to have vanished off the radar over the past couple of seasons, surely, with TCD having obtained cross-border fixtures for the selected Six, against their Welsh Premiership peers, it makes sense to resume fixtures at Club XV level too.

And, if they restart games against the Taffs, why not also the French and English?