Edinburgh represented across Men’s and Women’s U20 squads

Nine Edinburgh pro-academy players have been picked for ahead of the 2024 World Rugby U20 Trophy, due to be played at Hive Stadium, while 13 of Edinburgh’s Celtic Challenge team have been named in the Scotland Women U20 squad for their Six Nations Summer Series.

Flanker Liam McConnell will once again captain the men’s U20 side for the U20 Trophy, a competition that Scottish Rugby will host, welcoming seven teams from across the world to Hive Stadium.

Scotland have been drawn in Pool A, where they will compete against Samoa, Hong Kong China and Japan. Pool B will see Netherlands, USA and Kenya compete for their spot in the play-offs.

McConnell is joined in the forwards by the Blyth-Lafferty brothers Jerry (Hooker) and Ollie (prop), as well as back-row duo of Freddy Douglas and Tom Currie, lock Euan McVie and loosehead prop Robbie Deans.

In the backs, scrum-half Hector Patterson and the  versatile Jack Hocking are both named.

Scotland will meet Samoa for their first pool match on Tuesday 2 July (kick off 5.15pm), before they play Hong Kong China on Sunday 7 July (kick off 2.30pm). The last pool match will see the team compete against Japan on Friday 12 July (kick off 7.45pm) before they reach the play-offs v TBC on Wednesday 17 July (kick off TBC).

There is also a heavy Edinburgh imprint on the Women’s U20 squad for the inaugural Six Nations Women’s Summer Series in Parma.

Former Scotland Women U18 and Scotland Futures players, prop Poppy Fletcher and winger Hannah Walker, have been named as the tour co-captains, with a matchday captain selected from the starting XV for each game.

Fresh from their experience in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations with Scotland Women, Nicole Flynn, Natasha Logan, Merryn Gunderson and Leia Brebner-Holden have also been selected for the competition.

Edinburgh Player of the Season nominee Molly Poolman is named in the pack alongside fellow prop Fletcher, with Aila Ronald (Hooker), and flankers Gemma Bell and Sam Taganekurukuru also earning a spot on the plane to Italy.

In the backs, winger Ami Conchie, stand-off Hannah Ramsay, and full-back Nicole Marlow all join their club teammates in the thistle.

The squad, which comprises 17 forwards and 13 backs, will travel to Parma, Italy, next week ahead of their first match against the hosts on Thursday 4 July.

Scotland’s Six Nations Women’s Summer Series fixtures against Italy, France and Ireland will be available to watch via scottishrugby.org, with all remaining matches available on the Six Nations Rugby YouTube channels.

Scotland U20 Men

Ollie Blyth-Lafferty
Jerry Blyth-Lafferty
Tom Currie
Robbie Deans
Freddy Douglas
Liam McConnell (C)
Euan McVie

Jack Hocking
Hector Patterson

Scotland U20 Women

Aila Ronald
Gemma Bell
Merryn Gunderson
Molly Poolman
Natasha Logan
Poppy Fletcher (CC)
Samaanther Taganekurukuru

Ami Conchie
Hannah Walker (CC)
Hannah Ramsay
Leia Brebner-Holden
Nicole Marlow
Nicole Flynn