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Scotland are defending a seven-point lead in the tie, with a place up for grabs at the Oz08 World Cup down under.
The squad includes four players who will be meeting on Sunday for a place in Super League as McCormack’s Widnes Vikings – starring Oliver Wilkes and Mick Nanyn – take on Castleford Tigers, with Danny Brough and Andrew Henderson at their creative heart, in the co-operative National League One Grand Final. Featherstone’s Jamie Benn and Dean Colton hope to face Oldham in the NL2 Grand Final, also at Headingley on Sunday.
McCormack will be hoping all six come through unscathed before naming his final squad of 20 for the World Cup clash.
“Many of the squad are still playing, or are having operations after their seasons have ended, so it would be pointless to name the final 20 now,” he said. “However, all 26 are in with a shout of making it.” McCormack will also add three more ‘domestic players’ to the pool, having seen the Scotland A team perform against France Federale prior to the full international in Perpignan.
“It’ll be handy being able to see the A team lads first hand,” he added. “We’ve had good reports from their coach Angus McNab on a number of them and others are well known to us having been in camp before. I am sure that the likes of Dene Miller (St Albans Centurions) and Andy Todd (Edinburgh Eagles) will be pushing themselves forward for the full side the following week after having excellent seasons.”
If so they will join several Super League players in the full squad, including Hull FC’s uncapped Graeme Horne, who hopes to follow brother Richard in playing for Scotland at a World Cup. Wakefield’s Kevin Henderson may become the third Henderson brother to be capped by Scotland. Hooker Andrew, who returns to the squad after missing last season’s game, is a Scotland stalwart, while Ian is left out as he leaves Bradford Bulls to return to the NRL with New Zealand Warriors.
Also new to the squad is Halifax winger Lee Patterson while former Gateshead favourite Wade Liddell returns from Australia where he is playing with Easts Tigers
There are three ‘domestic quota’ players in the initial squad: Sheffield Eagles’ former York Acorn prop James Morrow and Swinton Lions’ new signing from Bradford Bulls, scrum-half Richie Hawkyard – both of whom played for Scotland Students earlier this year – while Hawkyard and Featherstone Rovers’ Jamie Benn both played for Scotland A last season while Benn was back in the amateur game.
Kevin Henderson, Patterson, Horne, Morrow and Hawkyard are among six uncapped players in the squad. Former Doncaster winger Dean Colton, who moved to Featherstone this year, has been in and around the Scotland scene for a couple of years without making the final step.
Scotland provisional squad: ALPHABETICAL
Jamie Benn – Featherstone Rovers
Danny Brough – Castleford Tigers
Dean Colton – Featherstone Rovers
Ben Fisher – Hull KR
Richard Fletcher - Whitehaven
Richie Hawkyard – Swinton Lions
Andrew Henderson – Castleford Tigers
Kevin Henderson – Wakefield Trinity
Graeme Horne – Hull FC
Jack Howieson – Sheffield Eagles
Paul Jackson – Huddersfield Giants
Wade Liddell – Easts Tigers
Neil Lowe – York City Knights
Duncan MacGillivray – Wakefield Trinity
Dave McConnell – Leigh Centurions
Iain Marsh – Rochdale Hornets
Spencer Miller - Whitehaven
Iain Morrison – Hull KR
James Morrow – Sheffield Eagles
Gareth Morton – Hull KR
Mick Nanyn – Widnes Vikings
Lee Patterson - Halifax
Jon Steel – Hull KR
Alex Szostak – Bradford Bulls
Mike Wainwright – Leigh Centurions
Oliver Wilkes – Widnes Vikings
Scotland provisional squad: BY CLUB
Alex Szostak – Bradford Bulls
Danny Brough – Castleford Tigers
Andrew Henderson – Castleford Tigers
Wade Liddell – Eastern Suburbs Tigers
Jamie Benn – Featherstone Rovers
Dean Colton – Featherstone Rovers
Lee Patterson - Halifax
Paul Jackson – Huddersfield Giants
Graeme Horne – Hull FC
Gareth Morton – Hull KR
Jon Steel – Hull KR
Iain Morrison – Hull KR
Ben Fisher – Hull KR
Dave McConnell – Leigh Centurions
Mike Wainwright – Leigh Centurions
Iain Marsh – Rochdale Hornets
Jack Howieson – Sheffield Eagles
James Morrow – Sheffield Eagles
Richie Hawkyard – Swinton Lions
Kevin Henderson – Wakefield Trinity
Duncan MacGillivray – Wakefield Trinity
Spencer Miller - Whitehaven
Richard Fletcher - Whitehaven
Mick Nanyn – Widnes Vikings
Oliver Wilkes – Widnes Vikings
Neil Lowe – York City Knights
For more information or to arrange interviews please Gavin Willacy on 07796 442041 or email rlbravehearts@hotmail.com
Related Links:
'A' Squad For France
France At The Double
Heading Down Under?
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NEXT FIXTURE
Scotland A v England A
VENUE
Lasswade RFC, Edinburgh
DATE
Saturday 16th August 2008
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