PAiS Rugby Athletes see National Success
Two PAiS rugby athletes, Scott Burnside and Karl Main, have both recently represented Scotland National age grade teams in international Fixtures. Karl was chosen for the Scotland U/17 team that played against England in March at the Greenyards in Melrose. Although Scotland were beaten, Karl put in a solid performance after starting at openside flank.
Scot Burnside has been on the Rugby Pais programme since the start of last season. After representing Edinburgh U/17’s in the District games, he was chosen to represent the National U/16 team as he is still eligible for that age group. Scott ended up captaining the team in both their games at the Wellington International Festival against England (South) and France.
Other Pais athletes, Lewis Carmichael and Reece Patterson narrowly missed out on the national u/17 team after taking part in the final trial. All three represented Edinburgh U/17’s in the district games. Two former Rugby Pais athletes from last season, Ruaridh Smith and Sean Mackle, also started for the Scotland u/17 team against England. They have both moved on from the Pais programme after taking up rugby scholarships at independent schools at the end of last season.
There is a lot of hard work ahead for these young aspiring rugby players in East Lothian. Hopefully they can follow in the footsteps of Findlay Gillies, Alun Walker and Tom Brown who are young East Lothian players that have made their way into the Glasgow and Edinburgh Pro ranks in recent times after progressing through the national age grade teams.
