Redpath and Graham join Borderers in Scots’ squad

Borders rugby player Cameron Redpath could be poised to make his Scotland debut in this year’s Guinness Six Nations championship.
Cameron Redpath on a try-scoring charge for Bath against Wasps (picture by Michael Steele/Getty Images)Cameron Redpath on a try-scoring charge for Bath against Wasps (picture by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Cameron Redpath on a try-scoring charge for Bath against Wasps (picture by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

The Bath centre, son of former Scotland captain Bryan Redpath, has been named in a 35-man squad by head coach Gregor Townsend for the 2021 tournament, set to kick off for the Scots behind closed doors at Twickenham against England on Saturday, February 6.

Redpath was involved with Scotland at age-grade level but was then snapped up by England and played for them at under-20 level.

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He was selected in Eddie Jones’ 34-man England squad for their 2018 tour of South Africa but was unable to travel because of injury so he remains uncapped.

Cameron was born in Narbonne while his Galashiels-born dad was playing in France and grew up in England, although his allegiances have possibly now tilted back this side of the border.

He was educated at Sedbergh School in Cumbria and played for Sale Sharks before moving to Bath.

Making a return to the line-up is another Borderer and the son of another Scots skipper, Gary Graham, a Newcastle Falcons back-rower whose dad George led Scotland to victory in the 1999 Five Nations and, until last year, was boss at Hawick.

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Other more familiar names from the Borders also make a return, including captain and full-back Stuart Hogg, winger Darcy Graham and prop forward Rory Sutherland.

Dumfries-born Alex Craig is also called up for the first time, and Rory Darge, recently with Southern Knights and Melrose, has been invited to train with the squad.

Head coach and former Gala ace Gregor Townsend said: “As coaches, we have selected a group which we believe can build on the work our players put in throughout the recent Autumn Nations Cup campaign and kick on again in terms of performance levels.

“The depth we have across the squad enables us to bring in some new players who have excelled in recent weeks and others we believe can perform at test level.

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“Our tournament gets off to a fantastic start with a fixture we look forward to every year against England and the opportunity to win back the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham.

“We are very aware how different this year’s competition will be due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it also provides a huge amount of positivity and enjoyment for millions of supporters, and we are looking forward to contesting every match and giving this championship our very best.”