Nine Borderers in club rugby XV match-day squad to play Ireland

Nine Borderers have been selected for the Scotland club international rugby match-day squad to play Ireland away in Dublin this Friday.

Kelso’s Dwain Patterson, Dan Gamble and Archie Barbour are all in the Scots’ travelling squad of 23, with Patterson starting at fly-half and his Poynder Park teammates on the bench.

Andrew Mitchell in action for a Scotland club XV beaten 39-17 by their Irish opposite numbers at Netherdale in Galashiels in January 2020, going up against Pa Ryan and Aran Hehir with Aaron McColm in support (Photo: Bruce White/SNS Group/SRU)

placeholder image — Andrew Mitchell in action for a Scotland club XV beaten 39-17 by their Irish opposite numbers at Netherdale in Galashiels in January 2020, going up against Pa Ryan and Aran Hehir with Aaron McColm in support (Photo: Bruce White/SNS Group/SRU)

Hawick’s Andrew Mitchell returns at outside-centre as one of a handful of previous caps, having played for Scotland’s club side last time they were in action in 2020, and he’s joined by Greens teammate Fraser Renwick at hooker.

Selkirk left-winger Ben Pickles and Melrose’s Jack Dobie and Angus Runciman, at loosehead prop and lock, are also in this week’s starting line-up.

Pickles’ full-back Philiphaugh teammate Callum Anderson joins Gamble and Barbour on the bench.

Those players were selected from a 37-man squad that have been training with head coach Bob McKillop and his three assistants – Melrose’s Scott Wight, Glasgow and the West’s Andy Hill and Caledonia Reds’ Andy Henderson.

Announcing his squad, McKillop, 58, said: “I can’t speak highly enough of our training squad, both as rugby players and as people.

“They brought enthusiasm and energy to all our sessions and this selection process has been the one of the toughest I’ve had in over 30 years of coaching.

“Our matchday squad is very skilled, with a blend of experience and up-and-coming players.

“We’ve ended up with a squad of 23 that we think is a lovely mix of experience and youth from across all of the districts.

“We think we’re bringing together the best of Scottish club rugby.

“We’ve got some young guns and we’re very excited about the bench as well. This will be a 23-man effort. This is international rugby and we’ve picked a bench that we really think can make an impact on the game in the last quarter.

“We are incredibly excited about the opportunity and look forward to donning the Thistle in Dublin on Friday.”

Premiership table-toppers Ayr are, as expected, well represented, with six players – skipper Blair Macpherson at No 8, openside flanker Tim Brown, lock Oscar Baird, right-winger Jamie Shedden and inside-centre Bobby Beattie starting, and prop Jamie Drummond on the bench, but they’re just one of ten clubs supplying players to head to Dublin.

Stirling County full-back and Caley Reds skipper Glenn Bryce starts at full-back, with his Bridgehaugh Park teammate Ruaraidh Hart among the replacements.

Currie Chieftains scrum-half or stand-off Gregor Christie, hailing from Peebles originally, will start at No 9, with Heriot’s forwards and veteran Scotland XV caps Ruaridh Leishman and Struan Cessford at No 6 and No 3 and Nails hooker Elliot Young and back-row Sam Wallace on the bench.

Glasgow Hutchesons’ Aloysians are represented on the bench by scrum-half Euan McKirdy.

They play an Irish club XV at Energia Park at Donnybrook, near Dublin, for the Dalriada Cup, with kick-off at 6.30pm, and that match is being streamed on IrishRugby+.