BALLAKEIGHAN’S Phil Cringle has been named on the bench for Scotland’s under-20 Six Nations opener against England on Friday evening.
The former Castle Rushen student and Douglas Rugby Club member was picked for the match after impressing selectors at under-18 level and in a recent squad get-together and training game against a Scottish Club XV.
The Isle of Man Sport Aid recipient signed for the Scottish RFU’s Edinburgh Academy last August after some starring performances for Kirkham Grammar’s first XV, the school he attended in Lancashire thanks to a Gubay Chase Your Dream bursary.
Since then the 18-year-old prop forward has been loaned to RBS National League side Stewart’s Melville who are based in the Scottish capital.
Friday’s match at Championship outfit Plymouth Albion RFC’s Brickfields Recreation Ground will be shown live on Sky Sports 2, with the Scots looking to avoid the 59-3 drubbing they received when the pair met in last year’s Six Nations.
Cringle will be hoping to retain his place in the squad for the rest of the annual competition with a home tie against Italy next up a week on Friday.