‘Exceptional’ Scotland prospect forced to sit out the Under-20 Six Nations
Ollie Blyth-lafferty, the highly rated 17-year-old tighthead prop, will not appear for Scotland during the under-20 Six Nations at all after discussions between Scottish Rugby, the tournament organisers and World Rugby.
Last week, Scotland head coach Kenny Murray named the Edinburgh Rugby academy youngster in the startall ing XV to play Wales, but then made a change on the night of the game in Colwyn Bay and he was not involved.
When Murray named the matchday squad for Wales he said that Boroughmuir product Blyth-lafferty “stands out as an exceptional prospect for Scottish rugby” – so why the U-turn?
Last Friday night post-match, Murray said: “We have been having discussion with Six Nations and World Rugby. He’s able to play adult rugby and is signed off, but we just feel it’s a bit early for him at this level, so we made the decision.”
And yesterday when naming his squad to play France in round two of the Six Nations tomorrow evening, Murray explained: “Ollie’s able to play rugby in Scotland, he can play adult rugby, he’s played Super Series and Six Nationswise there is nothing to say he couldn’t play, but when we looked into it further this week with World Rugby their recommendation is that they prefer guys don’t play at 17. Ollie turns 18 in seven weeks’ time and he will be able to play in the World Trophy. We’ll not play him for the rest of the Six Nations.”
For the tough clash against the French at the Hive Stadium, Harlequins/swansea University second-row Theo Currie and No 8 Jonny Morris of Glasgow Warriors start following the 37-29 loss to Wales, with Euan Mcvie and Tom Currie out with head injuries. Callum Smyth, Ryan Burke and Hector Patterson have been added to the bench.
Meanwhile, World Rugby announced yesterday that the second-tier World Trophy event will be played in Edinburgh in July, when Scotland will be looking for promotion.