Scottish Under 18s Get Under Way at Euro's.

5 Aug 2014 @ 11:00 BST

First Scotland U18 Side Taps-Off at European Championships

The first ever Scottish Touch Under 18s side is taking part in the first ever youth age grade European Touch competition today.

The tournament, beginning this morning, will run for two days, in the build up to the European Championships.
Finals are to be played as the opening ceremony for the full competition begins with the opening ceremony on Wednesday.
The mixed squad has been whittled down from 22 players to 16 by coach Dunkan Armstrong.
He said, "The transformation in the squad in the short time since we began back in March has been amazing.
"Very few had ever played before' but now they're keen to continue - which is the whole point of this.
"The aim was to get more young people interested in the sport; but obviously there's no point entering a competition if you don't want to win."

The team was entered by Dunkan in to the Stirling leg of the Scottish Touch Series to get some crucial match practice.

"Stirling was a great bonding for those that attended, and they did see the benefit of the structured side of the game.

"I would have loved for the squad to have formed a month or so earlier, and then entered into one of the Edinburgh leagues, as there's nothing like match practice (and they do love playing more than being coached!).
"I hope they remember a bit of structure, but I fear they will just revert to their extremely quick feet, and good passing skills.

"At a minimum, I'd hope we see solid driving, even if they forget all else."

The Scotland Mixed U18s begin their European Championships at 10:30 this morning. 

The final squad includes:

Ciaran Armstrong (Fettes College)
Archie Cable (George Heriot's School)
Lynsey Carlyle (Hamilton)
Rebecca Clingan (Dollar Academy)
Jamie Cousin (George Watson's College)
Mark Devine (Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools)
James Gilmour (George Heriot's School)
Cameron Lineen (Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools)
Cameron Livingston (Portobello High School)
Megan McLaren (Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools)
James Pinkerton (Captain) (Portobello High School)
Mhairi Russell (Vice Captain) (Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools)
Iona Smith (Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools)
Calum Sreenan (Dollar Academy)
Kirsty Venter (Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools)
Calum Young (George Watson's College)