RISING star Alex Blair today took the first steps towards following his illustrious older brothers – Mike and David – into the rugby limelight by being named among the latest inductees to Scotland's national rugby academy.
The 17-year-old Edinburgh Academy stand-off, whose siblings both represent Edinburgh with Mike the Scotland captain, is one of 23 players who have been contracted to train with the Scottish pro teams two days a week.
Other inductees include Stuar
t McNally, the highly-rated Scotland under-17 captain and back rower from Watson's College.
In a further attempt to ensure the Edinburgh Rugby talent conveyor belt is kept well-oiled, Heriot's contribute three players including flanker Roddy Grant, who has spent the summer playing in New Zealand under a scholarship arrangement
Among those at a stage of their education or careers who it is felt will benefit more from support from Area Institutes of Sport are Michael Tait, who lines up in the same centre berth occupied by his father Alan at Test level for Scotland. The rise of Musselburgh colts is recognised with the inclusion of Michael Maltman and Craig Owensen, who is retained from the 2007-08 class, while East Lothian continues to be a prolific breeding ground for rugby abilities notably through Haddington prop Dougie Orr and flanker Neil Rodger.
Since the National Academy launched four years ago, 30 players have gone on to win professional contracts and five – John Barclay, Johnnie Beattie, Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca and Ross Rennie – have won Scotland caps. Stephen Gemmell, Scottish Rugby's National Academy Manager, said: "The Academy selects players primarily from their performances in age-group international, district, club and school matches, focusing on players who have the potential to be influential in the pro-game and beyond.
"(Players) will receive programmes, support and advice, both technical and practical, all built around their individual requirements to give them the best possible chance to enhance their game. Our relationship with the pro-teams is first-class and this coming season our 23 contracted players will be working in two dedicated groups with Academy staff at the pro-teams on Mondays and Tuesdays."
Gemmell said opportunities to play would include the club game, pro-team games; back-up games; age-grade internationals and Scotland 7s.
The support provided by the Area Institutes includes performance, lifestyle, strength and conditioning, nutrition, medical, psychology, physiology and video analysis.
Contracted Academy players: Grant Anderson (Ayr) – full-back; Alex Blair (Edinburgh Academy) – stand-off; Fraser Brown (Biggar) – hooker; Tom Brown (Edinburgh Academy) – full-back; Innes Brown (Heriot's) – prop; Alex Dunbar (Annan) – centre; Scott Forrest (Ayr) – centre; Chris Fusaro (Heriot's) – flanker; Roddy Grant (Heriot's) – flanker; Richard Gray (Stirling County) – lock; Robert Harley (West of Scotland) – lock; Graham Hogg (Hawick) – centre; Peter Horne (Howe of Fife) – full-back; Jamie Hunter (Glasgow Hawks) – stand-off; Rory Hutton (Hawick) – stand-off; Peter Jericevich (GHA) – scrum-half; Chris Kinloch (Edinburgh Accies) – wing; Pat MacArthur (Ayr) – hooker; Stuart McInally (George Watson's College) – No 8; Lewis Niven (Edinburgh Accies) – prop; Neal Patrick (Dunfermline) – lock; Joe Stafford (Hillhead/Jordanhill) – prop; Steven Wilson (Dundee HSFP) – centre.
Area Institutes of Sport supported Academy players: Ross Aitken (Howe of Fife) – stand-off; Steven Aitken (Ellon) – full-back; Kevin Bryce (Stirling County) – flanker; Tom Bury (Boroughmuir) – wing; Gavin Cameron (Ellon) – prop; Nick Campbell (Cartha Queen's Park) – lock; Struan Dewar (Heriot's) – flanker; Tom Drennan (Edinburgh Accies) – flanker; Andrew Dymock (Dundee HSFP) – scrum-half; Grant Gilchrist (Stirling County) – lock; Finlay Gillies (Heriot's) – hooker; Danny Gilmour (Stirling County) – centre; Jason Hill (Stirling County) – No 8; Gregor Hunter (Gala Wanderers) – stand-off; James Johnstone (Merchiston Castle School) – centre; Andrew Kirkland (Greenock Wanderers) – No 8; Nicky Little (Hawick) – prop; Michael Maltman (Musselburgh) – flanker; Robert McAlpine (Glasgow Academy) – lock; Ryan McConnell (Peebles) – hooker; Ashleah McCulloch (Aberdeen Grammar Rugby) – centre; Dougie Orr (Haddington) – prop; Craig Owenson (Musselburgh) – prop; Gordon Reid (Ayr) – prop; Andrew Renwick (Selkirk) – flanker; Neil Rodger (Haddington) – flanker; Gary Strain (Glasgow Hawks) – prop; Michael Tait (Kelso Harlequins) – centre; Andrew White (Cartha Queen's Park) – stand-off; Duncan Weir (Cambuslang) – stand-off
