THREE years ago London Scottish recognised the importance of a youth set-up at the club by establishing one while everybody else was cutting back. This weekend the first real fruit of the club's vision will be delivered up to Scotland when 19-year-old fly-half Barry Irving takes his place in the nation's Under-21 squad.

Irving, from Sevenoaks, Kent, is the son of a Scot from the Borders. He signed as an apprentice at The Stoop in September last year and by the end of December had hit the headlines as the destroyer of Saracens in his first Allied Dunbar Premiership fixture. His mature performance marked him out as man of the match and he celebrated with a try.

The Exiles director of coaching, John Steele, has Irving down as a future full internationalist, but the young man is not getting carried away. His apprenticeship deal is that he continues with his education at Brunel University and he is fully aware he is still learning on the field of rugby.

''This had been a hectic couple of weeks,'' he said, after making his debut and being called up for the Under-21 squad. ''I recognise I've a lot to learn and I'm grateful to Jannie de Beer, our first choice fly-half. I've picked up a lot from him and he has been keen and very helpful with me.''

While Irving made an

impression on the Allied Dunbar

Premiership, it also made an impression on him.

''The pace was so quick, after 20 minutes I was really tired, but I got a second wind. Tackles are so much harder at this level,'' he said.

Tough it may have been, but Steele is certain that Irving is up to the challenge. ''We are looking to make him an internationalist of the future. He needs to pick up first-team games. He isn't the finished article, but he has all the attributes.''

While others have splashed out on big-name signings, the Exiles have given first-team opportunities to seven of their apprentices this term, and there are four teams below them in the Premiership table.

''We identified a need to back up our squad,'' explained Steele. ''It wasn't a case of saying what is fashionable. We needed youth rugby.''

In acquiring the services of

former Springbok de Beer, who is helping nurture Irving, Scottish seem to have found a blend that works for them and assists in

the long-term development of

domestic rugby. Not every

Scottish qualified player is in such an envious position as Irving.

Irving was plucked from the same Kent rugby area as Richard Sharples. Like Irving, Sharples showed early promise and was last season Scotland's Under-21 scrum half. Having squeezed into the Harlequins first team, he was ejected when they started recruiting established players. Sharples went to Blackheath, a club whose catchment area includes Irving's junior club Sevenoaks.

The comparisons between

Irving and Sharples are compelling. Both started the season well down the pecking order and both their clubs brought in

foreigners after the campaign got under way. While Irving has benefited from the arrival of de Beer, however, Sharples has suffered from Blackheath's signing of

Western Samoan internationalist John Clarke. Coaching and encouragement have been non-existent.

''It has been difficult this season. Man-management has not been a strong point. It is difficult to know which way to turn,'' said Sharples.

The youngster has a sponsorship at Blackheath that lasts until February next year, when his education finishes. Unless the situation changes dramatically he will not by then have played any more first class rugby and his game will not have improved. It would, in rugby terms, simply be a waste.