White will skipper Scots

Jan 9 2008 by Our Correspondent, Western Mail

SCOTLAND coach Frank Hadden has confirmed back-row forward Jason White as captain for the forthcoming 2008 Six Nations championship.

White, who first took on the role in the 2005 autumn Tests, missed last year’s Six Nations through injury but recovered to lead Scotland during the World Cup.

Hadden, who named a 35-man squad which will begin training next week, told www.scottishrugby.org that White’s position was never in doubt.

He said, “Jason is a key figure for us. He sets the tone as a leader, both on and off the field, and I look forward to working with him again during this season’s championship.”

The Scotland coach was keen to highlight the strength in depth available to him this year.

Twenty two of the squad are home based, among them six uncapped players – Edinburgh backs Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca and Calum MacRae, Glasgow wing Thom Evans and prop Moray Low and Edinburgh back-row forward Ross Rennie.

Cairns, 22, a product of the Scotland age group set-up and Scotland Sevens, is listed in the senior Scotland squad for the first time, while wing Simon Danielli returns after missing the World Cup through injury.

Hadden said, “I continue to be impressed with the competition for places.

“A number of players have maintained their good form from the World Cup, but they are going to be pushed extremely hard by some of our young, up-and-coming talent.”

Scotland squad, backs: M Blair, B Cairns (both Edinburgh), C Cusiter (Perpignan), S Danielli (Ulster), N De Luca (Edinburgh), T Evans (Glasgow Warriors), P Godman (Edinburgh), R Lamont (Sale Sharks), R Lawson (Gloucester), C MacRae (Edinburgh), G Morrison, D Parks (both Glasgow Warriors), C Paterson (Gloucester), H Southwell (Edinburgh), N Walker (Ospreys), S Webster (Edinburgh).

Forwards: J Barclay, J Beattie, K Brown (all Glasgow Warriors), D Callam (Edinburgh), A Dickinson (Gloucester), R Ford (Edinburgh), J Hamilton (Leicester Tigers), N Hines (Perpignan), A Hogg, A Jacobsen (both Edinburgh), A Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), G Kerr (Edinburgh), M Low (Glasgow Warriors), S MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets), Euan Murray (Northampton), R Rennie (Edinburgh), A Strokosch (Gloucester), F Thomson (Glasgow Warriors), J White (Sale, capt).