Scots put in Early Practice to Warm Up for the World Cup.

Crewe plays host to the Scotland Students and Under-19s rugby league squads this week, providing precious experience in time for the Student World Cup which is taking place in Padua, Italy, in July 2002.

The week’s training camp has been assisted by Crewe and Alsager, part of Manchester Metropolitan University, who are providing the teams with a whole host of facilities, including top health  experts, to work on their fitness and game plan.  The week provides time for the squad to develop new players and improve the team cohesiveness which has suffered in the past due to lack of match play.  The teams have found it difficult to train together as the players are based all over Britain, from Aberdeen to Cornwall.

The newly formed under-19s squad will find the week particularly beneficial playing matches against England under-19s on Thursday 4th April, and Wales under-19s on Saturday 6th April, in a Home Nations tournament.  It is hoped that the inexperienced team will be successful, having recruited a number of rising stars to the squad.

The Students face the tough task of the British Army tomorrow.  However, they are extremely confident of a successful outcome with key players such as Ash Carroll and Clint Brown returning to the squad.  The Scots are hopeful of a repeat performance of last year after convincingly beating the Royal Engineers.

The main aim of the week is to develop the under-19s side and provide preparation time for the Students who are gearing themselves up for the Student World Cup.  Having finished 3rd in the European Cup last September, the Scotland Squad is aiming for greater things in this year’s World Cup and are contenders for the title.

[(02/04/02) - Source: Kate Cochrane, Media Officer, Scotland Students Rugby League.  Tel:07879 471974.]