Worcester Warriors centre Alex Grove has today (Wednesday) been named in Scotland’s 28-strong playing squad for their summer tour to Australasia.
Grove, who made 26 appearances last season for Warriors, will jet out on the tour on May 24. Five uncapped players have also been called up for the trip. They are the Glasgow Warriors forwards Ryan Grant, Robert Harley and Tom Ryder and the Edinburgh Rugby backs Tom Brown and Tim Visser.
“I’m delighted after missing out around the Rugby World Cup and for most of the Six Nations. It comes on the back of a reasonable season at Warriors so I’m thrilled,” said Grove, currently on his holidays before returning for the five-week tour.
“You always want to play for your country, but the season when I had the six-month loan agreement with Edinburgh and then came back and played in the RFU Championship I didn’t feel I deserved the call.
“However, last season went well for me and I've had a few games for Scotland A and we won them all, you hope that will help force your way back in. Being part of a winning team and beating teams like England Saxons puts you in a good position.
“I was always itching to be involved on this tour and felt I had an outside chance after the Six Nations as they looked for the way forward.
“I hope to be involved in as many games as possible in a part of the world I have not visited before. Ravai (Fatiaki) has promised to give me the tour and he will be involved for Fiji so that could be fun coming face to face.”
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said: “This is a tough tour for Scotland. We’ll be playing against three attack-minded teams on their own turf. But it’s an important opportunity to start the rebuilding process after a disappointing Six Nations.
“One quarter of the squad has yet to start an international but we’ve seen from the manner in which Edinburgh and Glasgow have finished the domestic season that there’s confidence that we will be looking to build on.”
Scotland squad (sponsor RBS) for the summer tour to Australia, Fiji and Samoa:
Backs– Joe Ansbro (London Irish), Mike Blair, Tom Brown (both Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby), Max Evans (Castres), Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby) and Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors)
Forwards– John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), Geoff Cross, Ross Ford (c) (both Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant, Richie Gray, Dougie Hall, Robert Harley, Alastair Kellock (all Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby), Tom Ryder (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks) and Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors).
Matches:
Tuesday 5 June v Australia at Newcastle, New South Wales, kick-off 7.30pm local time (which is nine hours ahead of BST)
Saturday 16 June v Fiji in Lautoka, kick-off 2pm local time (which is 11 hours ahead of BST)
Saturday 23 June v Samoa in Apia, kick-off 3.30pm local time (which is 12 hours ahead of BST)
* Watch Alex Grove and the Warriors next season at Sixways! Call the Warriors Box Office on 01905 454183 for more information or click HERE to download the new Season Ticket application form.