Return to Pittodrie spurs injured White

SCOTLAND RUGBY CAPTAIN EXCITED ABOUT PROSPECT OF REVISITING HIS CHILDHOOD FIELD OF DREAMS

By Michael Gannon

Published:

Aberdeen’s Jason White is targeting a return to the Scotland rugby side in time for the autumn internationals, especially the series finale in his home city.

The 29-year-old captain will undergo knee surgery in Glasgow today and faces a summer of recuperation and rehabilitation.

He will miss Scotland’s summer tour of Argentina but hopes to be back in the side for the autumn series against New Zealand and South Africa at Murrayfield and the final match against Canada at Pittodrie on November 22.

White said: “I am just going in for a bit of a clean-up operation on my knee. It means I will have to work on rehabilitation over the summer but, hopefully, I can come back strong in time for the autumn internationals.

“We had a disappointing six nations this year so these games are very important for next year’s competition.”

White is excited at the prospect of playing for Scotland at Pittodrie, where he attended Aberdeen football matches as a youngster.

He said: “It will be great to play at Pittodrie, I used to go there as a youngster to watch the Dons and it was a dream to get on the pitch. The closest I got was being a ball boy so this will be terrific.

“There is a huge passion for rugby in the city and in the north-east and I think it will be a sell-out. There have been some very good players from the region, such as Chris Cusiter and Moray Low and hopefully this game will be the spark that will inspire others to follow.”

Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Gordon McKie said: “There are high levels of participation of rugby in the area so we are delighted to bring the Scotland team to the north-east and Pittodrie.

“Our first international here, against the Barbarians, was a massive success and I have no doubt this will be as well.”

Tickets for the match go on sale from today priced from £15, with full concessions, available from www.scottishrugby.org or on 0131 346 5100.

McGeechan will take charge for the fourth time having become synonymous with the Lions in an association as player and coach which stretches back through six tours and 34 years.

In 2005, McGeechan was in charge of the midweek team – the “dirt-trackers” – which travelled through New Zealand unbeaten while the Test team were humbled 3-0 by the All Blacks.

Williams played only a minor role in New Zealand three years but McGeechan left a lasting impression on him.

“There were times he stood up to deliver a speech and it was overwhelming.

“It made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Motivationally he is one of the best you will come across,” said Williams.