Strength in depth, or rather, the lack of it is an often discussed topic in Scottish rugby but over the past week evidence has appeared suggesting that at under-18 level the situation is improving greatly.
Last Tuesday the Scotland under-18 Development side achieved a remarkable 62-3 win over Romania under-18 at Meggetland, just two days after the full Scotland under-18 team had run England close in the international at Newcastle.
Then on Saturday the Scots, fielding a clutch of Exiles, were given a much tougher test by the Romanians but they still achieved a 17-8 win over the eastern Europeans. The involvement of the England based players meant that over the two games the coaching team was able to run the rule over some thirty players.
What was all the more creditable about the 62-3 win last Tuesday was that seventy per cent of the side were under-17s and therefore eligible to play at under-18 level next season.
All of which suggests that Scotland are now moving in the right direction at under-16, under-17 and under-18 levels of the game in development of elite players. That will be further tested this Saturday when Scotland under-18 play Irish Schools at Mayfield on Saturday (ko 11.00) in their final match before setting off for the European Rugby under-18 tournament in Toulouse.
Meanwhile in mainstream schools rugby Glasgow High School achieved a 15-5 win over Hutchesons' Grammar School to lift confidence ahead of the High School sevens tomorrow (Wed).
In Sunday's Merchiston sevens at Colinton, George Watson's College were the winners, the Brewin Dolphin Cup holders, defeating Selkirk and North Berwick before knocking out Durham School with a 29-5 win in the semi final. Then in the final Watson's were too strong for the host, beating Merchiston 26-12.
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