Scottish Professional players

Was rather bored at work this morning and was thinking about how Scotland have a relatively small player base to pick from. I decided to compile a list of all the Scottish players
playing professionally that I could think of.

Scotland qualified players
Props 30
A Dickinson(Edinburgh), A Dell(Edinburgh), R Sutherland(Edinburgh), G Shiells(Edinburgh), J Cosgrove(Edinburgh/London Scottish) R Grant(Glasgow), G Reid(Glasgow), A Allan(Glasgow), G Strain(Glasgow) K traynor(Bristol), R Hislop(Rotherham), C Fenton(Glasgow EDP), C Quigley(Doncaster Knights)
W P Nel(Edinburgh), S Berghan(Edinburgh), C Sheldon(Edinburgh), E Murray(Agen), J Welsh(Newcastle), M Cusack(Glasgow), Z Fargeson(Glasgow), D Rae(Glasgow), G Hunter(Glasgow), G Cross(London Irish), M Low(Exeter), D Young(London Scottish), B Prescott(London Scottish, P Cringle(Carcassone), J Gilding(L Welsh) N Fraser (North harbour Rays), J Sebastian(Glasgow)

Hookers 17
R Ford(Edinburgh), N Cochrane(Edinburgh), J hilterbrand(Edinburgh/Kings), S McInally(Edinburgh), G Turner(Edinburgh), P MacArthur(Glasgow), F Brown(Glasgow), K Bryce(Glasgow), F Scott(Glasgow), J Malcolm(Glasgow EDP), S Lawson(Newcastle), A Walker(Trailfinders), D Cherry( London Scottish),J Kerr(Edinburgh), S James(Scotland U20s/Bedford Blues), R Anderson(Jersey), Q MacDonald(Blues)

Locks 28
G Gilchrist(Edinburgh), F McKenzie(Edinburgh), B Toolis(Edinburgh), A Toolis(Edinburgh), J Gray(Glasgow), T Swinson(Glasgow), K Low(Glasgow), A Davidson(Glasgow EDP/London Scottish), S Cummings(Glasgow EDP), A Redmayne(Glasgow EDP), J Hamilton(Saracens), S MacLeod(Newcastle), S Tomes(Newcastle), A Crammond(Toulon), A Sinclair(Albi), R Gray(Castres), G Young(Newcastle) N Patrick (London Scottish)) N Campbell (Jersey), Josh T Brown(London Scottish), A Muldowney(Connacht), C Hunter-Hill(Glasgow EDP), M Douglas(Melbourne Rising) A Craig(Gloucester)(also B/R), T Ryder(Yorkshire carnegie), O Atkins(Exeter), K McDonald(Glasgow EDP), A Grant(Oxford Uni)

Backrow 41
J Hardie(Edinburgh), H Watson(Edinburgh), J Ritchie(Edinburgh), M Bradbury(Edinburgh), A Miller (Edinburgh) H Blake(Glasgow), J Strauss(Glasgow), C Fusaro(Glasgow), T Holmes(Glasgow), W Bordill(Glasgow), T Spinks(Jersey), R Harley(Glasgow), J Eddie(Glasgow), R Wilson(Glasgow), A Ashe(Glasgow),J Hill(Glasgow), D Denton(Bath), A Hogg(Newcastle), K Brown(Saracens), B Cowan(London Irish), J Barclay(Scarlets), M Eadie(Bristol), J Beattie(Castres), A Strokosh(Perpignan), D Sisi(Bath/London Irish), E Masterson( Connacht), K Murphy( London Welsh), M Smith(Glasgow EDP), S Dewar(Scotland 7s), M Fedo(Scotland 7s), S Riddell(Scotland 7s), G Graham(Jersey), S Newlands(Carcassone), Iain Grieve(Ealing Trailfinders), J Tyas(Chinnor), Z Mercer(Bath), S Dougall(Pau), M Dewar(Glasgow EDP), L Wynne(Glasgow EDP), B Flockhart(Glasgow EDP), E Dixon(Highlanders), B Thomson(Hurricanes), S Underhill(Ospreys)

Scrum Half 20
S Hidalgo-Clyne(Edinburgh), S Kennedy(Edinburgh), M McAndrew(Edinburgh) N Fowles(Edinburgh) H Fraser(Edinburgh EDP),A Glashan(Edinburgh), G Hart(Glasgow), H Pyrgos(Glasgow),A Price(Glasgow), M McConnel(Nottingham), C Cusiter(Sale), G Laidlaw(Gloucester), M Blair(Glasgow), S Steele(London Irish), J Stevenson(Wasps) B McKibbin(London Irish) , M Heeks(London Scottish), B Vellacott(Gloucester/Scotland U20), R Weir(London Scottish), J Turner(Western Force), G Horne(Glasgow EDP/London Scottish)

Stand Off 18
G Tonks(Edinburgh), B Kinghorn(Edinburgh), J Te Rure(Edinburgh),T Heathcote(Worcester), F Russel(Glasgow), D Weir(Glasgow), G Hunter(Glasgow), R Jackson(Wasps), L Millar(London Scottish), B Chalmers(Bordeaux), H Leonard(Yorkshire Carnegie) R Hutchison(Northampton) A Hastings(Bath)
D McKenzie (Chiefs) G Lowe(Glasgow EDP/Scotland 7s), S Wight(Scotland 7s), G Haldane(Northampton Saints), F Gillies(Cambridge Uni)

Wings 22
D Fyfe(Edinburgh),T Brown(Edinburgh) , D Hoyland(Edinburgh), B Robbins(Edinburgh EDP/Scotland U20s), J Farndale(Edinburgh/Scotland 7s), S Maitland(London Irish), T Seymour(Glasgow), S Lamont(Glasgow), L Jones(Glasgow), R Hughes(Glasgow), J Bulumakau(Glasgow Warriors), T Visser(Harlequins), G Watkins(Bristol) J McNicholl(Crusaders) M Russell(Warrington RL), J McManus(Newcastle knights RL) R Nairn(harlequins), A Coombes(London Scottish/Scotland U20), J Fleming(Scotland 7s), M Robertson (Glasgow/Scotland 7s), C Kinloch(Ealing Trailfinders), A Bulumakau(Doncaster Knights), D Flockhart(Doncaster Knights),

Centres 23
M Scott(Edinburgh), C Auld(Edinburgh)?, C Dean(Edinburgh),J Johnstone(Edinburgh/Scotland 7s) A Dunbar(Glasgow), P Horne(Glasgow), M Bennett(Glasgow), R Vernon(Glasgow), F Lyle (Glasgow),R Fergusson(Glasgow EDP/London Scottish)),J Steele(Glasgow EDP) , N Grigg(Glasgow EDP), D Taylor(Saracens), M Doneghan(London Scottish), A Grove(Worcester), N De Luca(Biarittz), O Grove(London Scottish) H Jones(Stormers & Western Province), K Linnett(North Queensland Cowboys RL/ Scotland RL) J Wardle (Huddersfield Giants RL/Scotland RL), P Kelly(le Parc/Scotland U20s), N Godsmark(Glasgow/Scotland 7s), N Herron(Glasgow EDP/Scotland 7s), C Jackson(London Scottish), R Thompson(Highlanders), J Williams(London Irish)

Full Backs 14
J Cuthbert(Edinburgh), N McLennan(Edinburgh), S Hogg(Glasgow), P Murchie(Glasgow), G Bryce(Glasgow), S MacColl(Gloucester), B McGuigan(Exeter), A Tait(Newcastle),) R Robinson(Toyota Verblitz) B Ransom(Saracens) L Coote(North Queensland Cowboys RL/Scotland RL) K Locke(Salford Reds RL) R Howarth (Edinburgh EDP/Scotland U20s), S McNicol(Chiefs)



This is all the players that I could come up with, I put in a couple like Matt Russell who plays rugby league but a few people have mentioned as to someone who could make a very good outside back in Union and is still pretty young.
There doesn't seem to be as many players playing overseas as I thought there might have been. I have included players playing in the pro 12, Aviva, English Championship, Top 14, pro D2 and a few super rugby players that I could think off.
Does anyone know of any other Scottish or Scottish qualified players that I have missed.
Feel free to add to the list.
For me Tighthead is a little short of good depth and also wingers are a little short of top quality, more than I realised.
Overall though I think the depth and quality is a lot better than what it has in recent years and with a  good amount of players coming through from age grade it should improve.

Bloody hell, you must have been really bored!

Amazing knowledge too if that's come from your own head - especially some of the players not based in Britain.  We should send this to the SRU to help with their scouting!

You able to tell us more about the following?

Backrow
D Sisi(Bath)
E Masterson( Connacht)
K Murphy( Brive)

Wing
J McNicholl(Crusaders)


p.s. - I'm going to have to edit the spelling of your article - there's no way I can let 'proffessional' stand!

p.p.s - I see you've changed it yourself, so I'll let you away with it!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Wing
J McNicholl(Crusaders)!

A quick google search has shed some light on this lad

Johnny McNicholl

I suspect at 34 years old, he's unlikely to play for Scotland.

Also good work Majestic, thats some list

That Wikipedia page shows two DoBs (hence why you should never use it for academic work kids!)

His Crusaders profile says he's 24

http://crusaders.co.nz/the-team/johnny-mcnicholl

Nice finish from him here



We're fairly well stocked at wing for Edinburgh and Glasgow so no masive need for him, unless DTH goes of course...

Eoghan Masterson Connacht - Masterson

RDW_Scotland wrote:That Wikipedia page shows two DoBs (hence why you should never use it for academic work kids!)
His Crusaders profile says he's 24

http://crusaders.co.nz/the-team/johnny-mcnicholl

Nice finish from him here

We're fairly well stocked at wing for Edinburgh and Glasgow so no masive need for him, unless DTH goes of course...

I should have checked....schoolboy error

You are the fooking man, Maj.

Great thread - must have taken ages.

For reference, I attach our previous effort on this topic (yours is more comprehensive, I think):
https://www.606v2.com/t27967-scottish-players-plying-their-trade-outside-of-scotland-at-the-professional-level

EWT Spoons wrote:Eoghan Masterson Connacht - Masterson

Sounds like he'll be playing against Edinburgh this weekend so worth keeping an eye on him. Back row so definitely a position we can't be turning people away from.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Bloody hell, you must have been really bored!

Amazing knowledge too if that's come from your own head - especially some of the players not based in Britain.  We should send this to the SRU to help with their scouting!

You able to tell us more about the following?

Backrow
D Sisi(Bath)
E Masterson( Connacht)
K Murphy( Brive)

Wing
J McNicholl(Crusaders)


p.s. - I'm going to have to edit the spelling of your article - there's no way I can let 'proffessional' stand!

p.p.s - I see you've changed it yourself, so I'll let you away with it!

Haha yes I did notice my spelling was a little off, I'll put it down to holiday brain and the shock of following your lead and finally caving to pressure and proposing!

I did have a little help from Wikipedia for a few of the championship players.

Dave sisi is a youngish back rower who normally plays 8 or 6. Played a fair bit for bath this season. Pretty big guy at about 6" 4 and around 19 stones but seems fairly mobile. Played for London Irish previously and also for England u20s but qualifies for scotland through a parent.

Eoghan masterson is also a back rower, normally a 6 I think who can play lock. Played for ireland u20 in the 6 nations two years ago then played for Scotland 20s that summer in the World Cup where started every game I think. Think he has had a bit of game time for Connacht this season but not seen him play.

Kieran Murphy is a no 8 normally, mid 20s and was at the scarlets before he went to Brive. Was born in Aberdeen but spent a lot of his life in Wales. He is a big ball carrier and looked a decent player when I have seen him play. When his contract was up at scarlets it had been rumoured in the press edinburgh were interested.

RDW_Scotland wrote:That Wikipedia page shows two DoBs (hence why you should never use it for academic work kids!)

His Crusaders profile says he's 24

http://crusaders.co.nz/the-team/johnny-mcnicholl

Nice finish from him here



We're fairly well stocked at wing for Edinburgh and Glasgow so no masive need for him, unless DTH goes of course...

Mcnicholl is a flying machine and has a huge hand off and step. Was top try scorer for a couple seasons in the itm cup and his emergence is what pushed sean Maitland out the door at the crusaders.
He has been unlucky with injury as he broke his leg badly in his first season of super rugby so slipped down the pecking order. He has also played full back a lot and is pretty solid under the high ball in defence.

Majestic83 wrote:

Haha yes I did notice my spelling was a little off, I'll put it down to holiday brain and the shock of following your lead and finally caving to pressure and proposing!

Are you at the 'how much???' stage of wedding planning yet?

McNicholl and Masterson sound the most promising of that lot - worth keeping an eye on them.

Given Lineen got the latter into the Scotland 6N squad, I'm assuming he's got this!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Majestic83 wrote:

Haha yes I did notice my spelling was a little off, I'll put it down to holiday brain and the shock of following your lead and finally caving to pressure and proposing!

Are you at the 'how much???' stage of wedding planning yet?

McNicholl and Masterson sound the most promising of that lot - worth keeping an eye on them.

Given Lineen got the latter into the Scotland 6N squad, I'm assuming he's got this!

Yes went to view a venue at the weekend, think I have still not quite recovered from the shock. Fair to say my idea afterwards of having the reception at the rugby club did not go down well!

Another couple of players to add to the list. Phil Cringle the Scotland U20 prop who was at Edinburgh is now plying his trade in the D2 with Carcassone. Should be a good move for him, still only 20 and will definitely learn a lot playing in France. Could be one to watch in years to come as in an interview I read he seems pretty determined to pull on the Scottish jersey at senior level.
Also one less likely to ever pull on the blue jersey unless there was a virus wiped out all other Scottish props even at club level is Jack Gilding who is at London Welsh!

Jack Gilding is probably the worst Scottish player I have ever seen, god bless him.

More importantly, congratulations Maj. Marriage is definitely worth it - particularly if you've married someone who's far too good for you. I did. And can thoroughly recommend it. She's trapped forever now.

Cheers George and yes definitely someone who is far too good, think they call it punching!

On rugby issues found another couple scots playing pro abroad. Ex muir prop nick Fraser is playing in Australia and was a stand out player for North harbour Rays in the new Australian championship(their currie cup) http://www.raysrugby.com.au/players/nick-fraser-3/
Only 23 and looks pretty promising. Will get pretty good experience out there against established internationals and is being coached by ex wallaby prop(when their props could prop) tony daly.

Also neale Patrick a second row from Dunfermline who was at edinburgh in his early days is playing for Plymouth albion. He is a very big guy and played for a few teams in the championship making it in team of the year. Thought he was one who would kick on and step up to the aviva but just doesn't seemed to have happened....yet. Still only 25 I think so still has time.
The other player is also a second row playing for Jersey and was previously at glasgow, Nick Campbell. Seems to be getting a good amount of game time there.

Pffft, don't know why you're all so impressed with this thread, all Maj has done is copy out his recent calls list...





Congrats also on the engagement!

Majestic83 wrote:Yes went to view a venue at the weekend, think I have still not quite recovered from the shock. Fair to say my idea afterwards of having the reception at the rugby club did not go down well!

I feel your pain. I paid for our wedding and I still weep at the thought of the opportunity cost!

Every now and then Mrs fES makes me switch off the rugby to look over the pictures of our wedding. We both get teary-eyed but for entirely different reasons!!

I've just found out this week how much a wedding band and photographer costs. We could go on a nice trip to Australia for that kind of money!

And apparently my suggestion of getting my pal Davey to take the pictures on his new smartphone was 'ridiculous'.

RDW_Scotland wrote:I've just found out this week how much a wedding band and photographer costs.  We could go on a nice trip to Australia for that kind of money!

And apparently my suggestion of getting my pal Davey to take the pictures on his new smartphone was 'ridiculous'.

I suggested we do our own music with an iPOD and some speakers, and was similarly rebuked. We ended up with an organist for the church, a string quartet in the afternoon, a ceiledh band in the evening following by a DJ.

Just having a look at this list and it strikes me how many of the players particularly at  Edinburgh are in the "Promising Youngster" Category. At first glance this looks promising then you realize how few Scottish players make it to 25/28 "prime" years as a professional. So many seem to drop out of the professional game completely usually through there squad position being taken by someone from the southern Hemisphere. There is no room to develop it seems its either be international class at 22 or find another occupation.

In countries with larger player base's like England or France you get guys getting first caps in there mid to late 20's as they have had time to reach there potential. This is such a more healthy position to be in.

The problem with this was illustrated a few years ago when 32 year old Parks retired, the next option was the 20 year old R. Jackson who was in all honestly far to young to be thrown into the six nation's and his reputation suffered. Yet between them there must of been 6 cycles of Scottish under 20 Stand offs that just seem to disappear? Where did they go? admittedly some have been unlucky with injury but that doesn't account for all of them.

The SRU needs to find a way to keep these guy's ticking over for a few years if there squad position is taken at Glasgow or Edinburgh whether that's through a third pro team, greater fluidity between the pro ranks and clubs, or simply sending people down to England to watch the development of the guy's that end up down there.

Fantastic list!

Here are another couple from London Scottish

Josh Thomas Brown - Lock - 27 - Former Wasps, Brisbane Brothers and Rotherham player.

Cites his greatest ambition is to play for Scotland. I really rate this guy as he's tough as teak and pretty mobile for a big lad.




Matt Heeks - Scrum Half - 27 - Former Scot U20, London Irish, Rosslyn Park and Wasps player.

Cracking little player and has, by a distance, the best pass of either hand of a Scottish qualified scrummie. Never understood how this guy slipped through the cracks.

Hi chaps, long time follower on here; first time poster.

I may receive a hostile reception here but it seems that we've got a lot more professional players than I thought we had. I know this has been discussed to death on these boards but surely we have enough players to produce a 3rd pro team:

1. Phil Cringle (Carcassone)/  R Hislop(Rotherham)
2. Stuart McNally (Edinburgh)/ George Turner(Edinburgh)
3. D’arcy Rae/Zander Fargerson (both Glasgow)
4. Adam Sinclair (Perpignan?)/ Toolis (Edinburgh)
5. Andy Crammond (Toulon)/ Tom Ryder (Glasgow)  
6. Jamie Richie (Edinburgh)/ Ali Strokosh(Perpignan)
7. Tommy Spinks (Glasgow)/ J Hardie(Highlanders)
8. Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh)/ Ali Hogg (Newcastle)
9. Sean Kennedy (Edinburgh)/Murdo Mcandrew (Gala?)
10. Scott Wright (Scotland 7s)/Harry Leonard (Leeds)/Gavin Lowe (Scotland 7s)
11. Jamie Farndale (Edinburgh)/ Bryron McGuigan (Chiefs)
12. Ross Curle (Ayr)/ James Jonestone (Scotland 7s)
13. Robbie Ferguson (Ayr)/ Alex Grove(Worcester)
14. Lee Jones/ Rory Hughes (Glasgow)  
15. Ruairi Howarth (Gala)/ Kevin Bryce (Glasgow)

The team is made of of EDPs from Glasgow and Edinburgh who have featured little/if at all, Exiles and Scotland 7s players and the beauty of that is they have all been in a professional rugby environment before which will make them make the transition easier. I appreciate that that squad looks light on numbers but it could be easily bulked up by some NSQ players.

In the early years this team would not be successful but it would give lads exposure to professional rugby and ultimately widen the pool of professional players. Who knows, we might even unearth some gems!

Welcome to the forum Bored! You're not related to reallybored are you?

The problem is - and always has been - that the team you mention would be competitive at British and Irish Cup level, but would be absolutely horsed week in week out in the Pro 12. Even Treviso would look at that team and be glad they had a chance to rest their front line players.

The league has changed dramatically since the Borders had a go at it, and is now so professional and competitive that you can't just throw a load of EDPs in. The best teams are some of the best in Europe, and even the mid-table teams could potentially beat top teams in England and France on one off games.

Look at Edinburgh - they are full of seasoned pro's and internationalists and they have struggled like hell over the years.

So unless you had at least 15 seasoned pros in the squad - including several internationals - I just don't think it would work.

What would be ideal would be to get that team to play together in the B&I cup and take things from there. Problem is, there aren't any spaces left in the B&I cup just now.

I hope that didn't class as a hostile reception!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Welcome to the forum Bored! You're not related to reallybored are you?

The problem is - and always has been - that the team you mention would be competitive at British and Irish Cup level, but would be absolutely horsed week in week out in the Pro 12. Even Treviso would look at that team and be glad they had a chance to rest their front line players.

The league has changed dramatically since the Borders had a go at it, and is now so professional and competitive that you can't just throw a load of EDPs in. The best teams are some of the best in Europe, and even the mid-table teams could potentially beat top teams in England and France on one off games.

Look at Edinburgh - they are full of:big girl's blouses, obese cake eating Strausses and Tim Visser seasoned pro's and internationalists and they have struggled like hell over the years.

So unless you had at least 15 seasoned pros in the squad - including several internationals - I just don't think it would work.

What would be ideal would be to get that team to play together in the B&I cup and take things from there. Problem is, there aren't any spaces left in the B&I cup just now.

I hope that didn't class as a hostile reception!

Fixed that for you my eastern brother.

Ouch - that 1872 humping really hurt didn't it Jimbo my friend!!

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:I've just found out this week how much a wedding band and photographer costs.  We could go on a nice trip to Australia for that kind of money!

And apparently my suggestion of getting my pal Davey to take the pictures on his new smartphone was 'ridiculous'.

I suggested we do our own music with an iPOD and some speakers, and was similarly rebuked. We ended up with an organist for the church, a string quartet in the afternoon, a ceiledh band in the evening following by a DJ.  

Who played music straight from his IPod right...

funnyExiledScot wrote:Ouch - that 1872 humping really hurt didn't it Jimbo my friend!!

Hurt? I felt like a Basildonian watching his prize pitbull choking to death on a labradoodle, or yourself finding one of your domestic staff relieving himself in your wedgewood commode.

jimbopip wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Ouch - that 1872 humping really hurt didn't it Jimbo my friend!!

Hurt? I felt like a Basildonian watching his prize pitbull choking to death on a labradoodle, or yourself finding one of your domestic staff relieving himself in your wedgewood commode.

whats a commode?

It's a type of toilet, or outhouses as they call them in Glasgow.

Another to add to the list, well found cp10. Huw jones, edinburgh born playing for the stormers, centre or full back.

Majestic83 wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:That Wikipedia page shows two DoBs (hence why you should never use it for academic work kids!)

His Crusaders profile says he's 24

http://crusaders.co.nz/the-team/johnny-mcnicholl

Nice finish from him here



We're fairly well stocked at wing for Edinburgh and Glasgow so no masive need for him, unless DTH goes of course...

Mcnicholl is a flying machine and has a huge hand off and step. Was top try scorer for a couple seasons in the itm cup and his emergence is what pushed sean Maitland out the door at the crusaders.
He has been unlucky with injury as he broke his leg badly in his first season of super rugby so slipped down the pecking order. He has also played full back a lot and is pretty solid under the high ball in defence.

he was playing for crusaders on the game i was watching on saturday . scored a try too...

Assuming Helu and the large Fijian are done deals the we're probably OK on the wing, even if Visser leaves, but a quality fullback would be really handy. McLennan isn't good enough and Cuthbert only just gets over the quality threshold. Tonks will be used solely at 10 I suspect next season, and Tom Brown's one on one tackling is enthusiastic but lightweight.

Glasgow are certainly in need of at least one winger though.

Just posted this in the Ed/Glas banter page but thought it would be worth repeating here.

Don't know if this has already been mentioned somewhere else, but Salford RL's Kiwi fullback Kevin Locke looks to be considering a move to Union and Scotland!

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/locke-linked-rugby-union-switch-8695309

He's only 25 and looks rapid, to say the least. Best of all he's Scottish Qualified!

Here are some old highlights:

And this comment at the bottom (not sure if it's sour grapes talking though):

salfordred  • 5 hours ago  

Will not be missed at salford another player with a big reputation and nothing else to give the team(waste of money)

This is how he's described on the Salford page...

"On his day not only the most exciting full-back in Super League but probably the most exciting player. A blistering turn of pace and an eye for the tryline makes Kevin a potentially matchwinner every week"

Well supposing he does sign for a Scottish side, which of Edinburgh or Glasgow would it be and which position would he play?

MacKnocked-on wrote:Well supposing he does sign for a Scottish side, which of Edinburgh or Glasgow would it be and which position would he play?

He's young, fast and talented - three criterion that automatically render you ineligible to play for Edinburgh.

So we are basically saying that we need to share the Giant Fijian, Well Helu Ladies and Locke. Glasgow have, in fact, lost 2 wingers.

Edinburgh might lose Visser unless Solomons throws him a large cheque and tells him that his hair is looking fabulous.

Stronger claim for the dodgers of the soap, perhaps?

Well given Glasgow's 2nd best winger next year will be Lee Jones, I'm going to say as a back 3 player for Glasgow!

I remembered this article from the Herald back in January - interesting to see that what was being talked about at the time was a move to the Scotland league team:

Scotland RL coach opens door for Locke to turn
Kevin Ferrie
Senior SRU Biatch

Wednesday 28 January 2015

The head coach of Scotland's rugby league team has welcome the news that Kevin Locke, one of the New Zealanders who ended his side's heroic bid at the 2103 Rugby League World Cup, has indicated that he may switch sides in time for the next tournament.

Steve McCormack made it clear, however, that the 25-year-old will have to make his commitment to the cause clear before he will be considered.

"We actually spoke about Kevin prior to the 2013 campaign because we knew he was eligible but we also knew he was likely to be picked for New Zealand," said McCormack.

"Our chairman Keith Hogg and I both spoke to him after they beat us in the quarter-final at Headingley and I've now read some comments from Kevin suggesting he may be interested in playing for Scotland which is good to see."

Locke made the last of eight Test appearances in the World Cup final at Old Trafford.

However he was effectively squeezed out of their domestic game last year when his Auckland-based NRL club side the New Zealand Warriors recruited English full-back Sam Tomkins, forcing him to move the other way in a lucrative deal to join Salford Reds.

He revealed when he moved that Scotland's two professional rugby union clubs had approached him saying: "I got a few union offers in Scotland around the same time as here, from Edinburgh and Glasgow, but I wanted to stay in league. I didn't want to switch."

However it seems he was talking about codes rather than nationality having admitted to the specialist magazine League Express this week that while he would like to play for New Zealand again he believes his move to Super League has probably ruled him and he is consequently weighing up options.

"I qualify for Scotland through my father and after I played against them for in the World Cup quarterfinal one of the Scotland coaches mentioned to me that I should play for them in future, so you never know," he told them.

While Scotland relied heavily on English and Australian born players at that tournament they have avoided selecting players who have been capped at full Test level by another country, but doing so is within rugby league's rules so McCormack's main concern is maintaining squad morale.

"We've changed the way people look at us in the last few years and we've now got a lot of interest from Super League and NRL players who want to play Test rugby," he said, noting that Keith Galloway, the Wests Tigers prop who has played for Australia and Banff-born Newcastle Knights winger James McManus, are already in the frame.

"However we got the balance right for the last World Cup and we need every player who plays for Scotland to know they are doing it for the right reason. I take it very personally that they are passionate about that."

McCormack knows, however, that with Scotland having qualified for the glamorous Four Nations tournament in 2016, as well as the following year's World Cup, he must add strength to the existing tight-knit squad.

He and assistant Dave Rotheram are consequently heading to Australia this summer to check out facilities, but also to assess players.

"We feel it's important to meet with players and see them ourselves rather than relying on recommendations," he explained.

You can add this 21yr old guy to your list - Huw Jones.

Stormers bio wrote:
Huw Jones

Jones scored one of the better individual tries of 2014 in last year’s epic Varsity Cup Final – in the mould of Jaque Fourie – when his UCT side came back from the death to steal the title away from their hosts, NWU-Pukke.

Powerful, quick and with a neat step, Jones could find himself playing on the wing this year – having initially made a name for himself at centre and also featuring at fullback for the DHL WP U21 team in 2014.

Huw was born in Scotland and schooled at Millfield in England and he initially came to Cape Town on a gap-year, before joining UCT as a full-time student and rugby player.

http://thestormers.com/backs/huw-jones/

Can you imagine the sh!t that will fly from the sheepbotherers on these boards if we ever cap someone called "Huw Jones"?

Majestic83 wrote:Another to add to the list, well found cp10. Huw jones, edinburgh born playing for the stormers, centre or full back.

Already noted your find cp10

Good find.

Playing Lee and Huw Jones on the same team will really confuse the Welsh. Any other Welsh sounding players?

cp10 wrote:Playing Lee and Huw Jones on the same team will really confuse the Welsh. Any other Welsh sounding players?

Only the Edinburgh show pony Dai Denton.

cp10 wrote:Playing Lee and Huw Jones on the same team will really confuse the Welsh. Any other Welsh sounding players?

Maybe we could bring back Max Evans!

George Carlin wrote:

cp10 wrote:Playing Lee and Huw Jones on the same team will really confuse the Welsh. Any other Welsh sounding players?

Only the Edinburgh show pony Dai Denton.

Mark Bennett - that's a Welsh surname. He's also world class.