Hadden plans hit by recalls

Scotland chief sees all of his foreign-based players recalled from Spain

Last updated: 29th October 2008  

Hadden plans hit by recalls

Hadden: training camp in Spain

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Scotland coach Frank Hadden has lost all ten of his foreign-based players from his side's training camp in Spain after their clubs exercised the right of recall regulation.

Hadden will now be hoping that none of the ten pick up injuries if they are selected for club action this weekend.

Hadden has enjoyed three days at the La Manga resort with a full compliment of players, but now faces four more days without the services of some of his key men with his side's opening November Test against New Zealand under two weeks away.

Alasdair Dickinson and Alasdair Strokosch will head back to Gloucester ahead of Sunday's EDF Energy Cup match away at Newcastle, while Scott Gray, Sean Lamont and Euan Murray will return to Northampton for the Saints' home cup tie against Scarlets on Saturday.

Nikki Walker has been recalled by Ospreys who play London Irish on Sunday, Rory Lamont and Jason White to Sale who face Leicester, while Nathan Hines could get some game time for Perpignan.

Although the recalls come at an unfortunate time, Hadden is powerless to resist and insists he has made the most of the brief time he had with the complete squad.

"We have certainly maximised the brief preparation time sanctioned by the International Rugby Board with the Exiles participating in four training sessions," he stated.

Along with New Zealand, Scotland play South Africa and Canada in the next month in matches which will determine their ranking going into the 2011 World Cup draw.

New appointments

Meanwhile, former Test stars Gregor Townsend and Shade Munro were named as assistant coaches of the Scotland A team on Wednesday.

The pair will work under Edinburgh head coach and former England boss Andy Robinson, who takes charge for the November 14 visit of Georgia to Firhill.

Speaking at Murrayfield on Wednesday, Townsend stated: "I was delighted to be asked by Andy to be involved with the A team and I know what a great responsibility I have to be in charge of the backs."

Munro, who earned seven caps as a player, added: "I've really enjoyed the experience of working with the A team.

"It's a special role that is entirely different to my day-to-day work with Glasgow because you have so little time to prepare a group of players that might only have met for the first time at training."

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