Scots seek upper hand in France

LARGE NORTH-EAST CONTINGENT ON NATIONAL DUTY IN TOUCH RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

By paul smith

Published:

SAFE HANDS: Shona Ballantyne with a line-up of rugby players and referees who are heading for France. Colin Rennie

A group of 17 north-east touch rugby players and six officials will fly the flag for Scotland at the sport’s European championship.

Six teams will represent the nation at Massy in France from Friday until Sunday.

The north-east contingent have all been selected on the back of their performances in the Aberdeen touch leagues, based at the Woodside Sports Complex in the city.

Shona Ballantyne, Sarah Butler and Syla Clarke will all feature in the Scotland women’s team while Claire Bolger, Catherine Hollis and Dan Fitzgerald join forces in the national mixed side.

The men’s over-30 squad will include Neil Fraser, Paul Wood, Tim Hollis, Campbell Scott, Colin Simpson and Paul Smith.

Monica Coyle, Jenny Davidson and Melissa Roberts have been selected for the women’s over-30 line-up and the north-east representation continues in the men’s over-35 event where Alan Lilly and Dave Matthews have caught the eye of selectors.

Aberdeen referees Will Young, Emma Ross, Mike Wallace, Sarah Holt, Jo Dickinson and Beth Smith will also travel.

It took six months for the Scottish management team to whittle down hundreds of hopefuls into a final squad.

Robbie McKenzie, of the Scottish Touch Association, said: “With six teams, the Scotland squad will probably be the largest national squad participating at the cham- pionships. That is evidence of the high standards now being achieved in the touch leagues across Scotland.

“This is the most competitive and professional Scotland squad put together for a major championship and we have high hopes.”