Head coach Andy Robinson has today named the 30-man Scotland squad for the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.
The squad will be captained by Alastair Kellock, the 30-year-old Glasgow Warriors second-row forward.
Kellock, who won his 34th cap in the weekend EMC Test victory over Italy, has led Scotland eight times from the outset of a match and has also assumed the leader’s role during matches, most notably in victory over the Wallabies at Murrayfield in 2009.
He is among 12 players selected as part of a Scotland Rugby World Cup squad for the first time. One of that dozen, his Glasgow Warriors team-mate, Richie Gray, is the youngest in the Scots’ party. The 6ft 8ins lock celebrates his 22nd birthday on Wednesday.
That said, however, it is an experienced squad. All 30 players are capped internationalists with the list headed by Scotland’s most capped player, centurion Chris Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby), who will be playing in an unprecedented fourth Rugby World Cup for a Scot.
The squad is drawn from 13 clubs with 15 home-based players (7 from Edinburgh, 8 from Glasgow Warriors) and 15 Exiles. In all they have played 1038 internationals scoring a grand total of 82 tries.
Head coach Andy Robinson OBE said: “I want to pay tribute to the dedicated and professional approach of all those in our provisional squad.
“Eight players have been unfortunate to miss out from that squad but that is because of the talent we have been able to assemble in our final 30.
“As a squad we have our values and uppermost among them is to inspire the nation by the way in which we conduct ourselves and through winning performances on the international rugby field.”
Kellock, who was praised for his dignity when he missed out on selection for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, added: “Today is not a time for looking back. It’s about reflecting on the huge honour of being selected for the squad in the first instance, which is magnified by being asked to captain the squad.
“I intend to do my utmost to reward the coaches’ faith in me and make the country proud by what we achieve in New Zealand.”
Scotland squad for the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand:
Backs –
Joe Ansbro (London Irish) 7 caps, 1 try, 5 points – RWC newcomer
Mike Blair (Edinburgh) 72 caps, 6 tries, 30 points – RWC 2003 and 2007
Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 53 caps, 3 tries, 15 points – RWC 2007
Simon Danielli (Ulster) 30 caps, 6 tries, 30 points – RWC 2003
Nick De Luca (Edinburgh) 26 caps, 1 try, 5 points – RWC newcomer
Max Evans (Castres) 20 caps, 3 tries, 5 points – RWC newcomer
Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps, 1 penalty, 2 conversions, 1 drop-goal, 10 points – RWC newcomer
Rory Lamont (Toulon) 25 caps, 6 tries, 30 points – RWC 2007
Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 56 caps, 8 tries, 40 points – RWC 2007
Rory Lawson (Gloucester) 28 caps – RWC 2007
Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 30 caps, 3 tries, 15 points – RWC newcomer
Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues) 62 caps, 4 tries, 15 conversions, 48 penalties, 14 drop-goals, 236 points – RWC 2007
Chris Paterson (Edinburgh) 105 caps, 22 tries, 163 penalties, 89 conversions, 3 drop-goals, 786 points – RWC 1999, 2003 and 2007
Forwards –
John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 29 caps, 2 tries, 10 points – RWC 2007
Kelly Brown (Saracens) 46 caps, 4 tries, 20 points – RWC 2007
Geoff Cross (Edinburgh) 6 caps – RWC newcomer
Alasdair Dickinson (Sale Sharks) 21 caps, 1 try, 5 points – RWC 2007
Ross Ford (Edinburgh) 49 caps, 2 tries, 10 points – RWC 2007
Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 12 caps – RWC newcomer
Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors) 36 caps, 1 try, 5 points – RWC 2003
Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 32 caps, 1 try, 5 points – RWC 2007
Nathan Hines (Clermont Ferrand) 73 caps, 2 tries, 10 points – RWC 2003 and 2007
Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh) 56 caps – RWC 2003 and 2007
Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) CAPTAIN 34 caps, 1 try, 5 points – RWC newcomer
Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 28 caps, 2 tries, 10 points – RWC 2007
Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 15 caps – RWC newcomer
Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons) 39 caps, 2 tries, 10 points – RWC 2007
Ross Rennie (Edinburgh) 8 caps – RWC newcomer
Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester) 20 caps, 1 try, 5 points – RWC newcomer
Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks) 12 caps – RWC newcomer
Management
Head coach – Andy Robinson OBE
Attack coach – Gregor Townsend MBE
Defence coach – Graham Steadman
Specialist coaches – Duncan Hodge (kicking) and Massimo Cuttitta (scrummage)
Analyst – Gavin Scott
Strength and conditioning – Neill Potts (lead) and George Petrakos
Nutritionist – Richard Chessor
Director of Performance Rugby – Graham Lowe
Medical – James Robson (Doctor); Paul McGinley and Stephen Mutch (physiotherapists); and Gillian Main (masseuse)
Psychologist – Richard Cox
Media – Graham Law (Scotland team media manager) and Dominic McKay (Director of Communications and Public Affairs)
Team Manager – Dougie Potter
National Team Co-ordinator – Kirsty Mackay
Kit manager – John Pennycuick
Lawyer – Bruce Caldow
SCOTLAND RUGBY WORLD CUP MATCH SCHEDULE
SCOTLAND POOL B MATCHES
Saturday 10 September – Scotland v Romania, Invercargill (kick-off 1pm, 2am BST) – on STV
Wednesday 14 September – Scotland v Georgia, Invercargill (kick-off 7.30pm, 8.30am BST) – on STV
Sunday 25 September – Scotland v Argentina, Wellington (kick-off 8.30pm, 8.30am BST) – on STV
Saturday 1 October – Scotland v England, Auckland (kick-off 8.30pm, 8.30am BST) – on STV
QUARTER FINALS
Saturday 8 October – Winner C v Runner-up D, Wellington (kick-off 6pm, 6am BST)
Saturday 8 October – Winner B v Runner-up A, Auckland (kick-off 8.30pm, 8.30am BST)
Sunday 9 October – Winner D v Runner-up C, Wellington (kick-off 6pm, 6am BST)
Sunday 9 October – Winner A v Runner-up B, Auckland (kick-off 8.30pm, 8.30am BST)
SEMI FINALS
Saturday 15 October – Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2, Auckland (kick-off 9pm, 9am BST)
Sunday 16 October – Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4, Auckland (kick-off 9pm, 9am BST)
3RD PLACE PLAY-OFF
Friday 21 October – Loser SF 1 v Loser SF 2, Auckland (kick-off 8.30pm, 8.30am BST)
FINAL
Sunday 23 October – Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2, Auckland (kick-off 9pm, 9am BST)