A significant number of players in the Scotland squad to play the Barbarians at Murrayfield on 31st May and to go on Scotland’s two Test summer tour to South Africa just days later, will still be made available to their pro team coaches for selection for these Friday games. A small number of other Scotland players, in positions where any injury would have serious, knock-on implications throughout the senior Scotland, Scotland A and representative teams in June, will be rested from their Celtic League commitments this Friday.
Scottish Rugby is fully supportive of the Celtic League and Heineken Cup competitions it competes in and recognises the importance of this Friday’s games for possible Heineken Cup selection next season. This involves in particular the Glasgow Warriors' away game against Connacht and the Border Reivers' home game against Newport Gwent Dragons. Consequently, Scottish Rugby can confirm its plans to make many Scotland players available for selection for these games.
The month of June sees some 90 players committed to compete for Scotland, Scotland A, Scotland Under 21s and Scotland 7s teams. The professional Scotland and pro team coaches recognise that injuries now in a few key positions in the senior Scotland squad would result in serious late selection problems for all concerned. After discussions between all the coaches, the partial Scotland squad player release back to the pro teams was agreed. The three Scottish pro teams announce their selections for Friday’s Celtic League matches on Thursday 25th May.