Academy trio looking to follow in footsteps of Scots stars after receiving coveted scholarship
The John Macphail Scholarship has received a bit of a revamp this year but the three young recipients are hopeful that the results of their overseas sojourn will be similar to previous beneficiaries who have gone on to forge successful international careers.
BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy players, Angus Fraser (Dundee HSFP), Andrew Jardine (Melrose) and Guy Kelly (Biggar) have been awarded the coveted scholarship for 2017 and will spend five months at South Africa’s renowned rugby hothouse of Stellenbosch University, 50 miles east of Cape Town.
Created in memory of John Macphail, the ex-scotland Internationalist (1949-1951), the programme is funded by the Robertson Trust – now in its 13th year – and previously sent emerging players and coaches to Canterbury in New Zealand for a 15-week programme.
The first recipient in 2005 was John Barclay, who now has 66 caps and has captained Scotland the past year. Ever since, the scholarship has an impressive success rate when it comes to providing development opportunities for future Scotland players. Other internationalists to follow in Barclay’s footsteps include Grant Gilchrist, Kevin Bryce, George Turner, Jonny Gray, Finn Russell, Sam Hidalgo-clyne and Adam Ashe.
Last year’s recipients were Ross Mccann, who returned from New Zealand to play a part in Scotland U20s’ bestever finish in the World Rugby U20 Championship and Patrick Kelly, who won a senior professional contract at Glasgow Warriors.
Of the class of 2018, hooker Angus Fraser, 17, came through the ranks at Dundee, playing mini rugby with Dundee Eagles while at Liff Primary before moving to Dundee High and representing both the school and club side, ultimately earning selection to the BT Sport Academy and Scotland U18. Centre Andrew Jardine, 18, played at Biggar from the age of four until 18 and now plays for Melrose. Prop Guy Kelly, 18, first played rugby at the age of five in Qatar and later Dubai as his father worked as a farrier for Gulf racetracks, before moving to the UK. He represented his club, Biggar, from U15 to senior level and has since earned a call-up for Glasgow and The West U18.
Scotland’s youth structure and the performance of agegrade sides have made great strides in recent years but 1990 Grand Slam hero Sean Lineen believes the Macphail Scholarship remains a highly valuable initiative.
The SRU’S age grade and academy chief said: “We can only do so much in our own country developing them. It’s when they go on tour, away from their safe environments, the people they know well... They have a routine when they are in Scotland. When they’re away they learn to fend for themselves, make decisions off the field. Rugby is all about making good decisions. I think it’s brilliant too for developing them as people. You only have to look at the people who have been on it to see the benefits to Scottish rugby.”