The professional players clubs have chosen to augment their squads this season were revealed by the SRU yesterday and again the 'draft' has shown coaches to be shrewd in their estimation of which leading lights might be available, The Scotsman's David Ferguson writes.
"Melrose coach Craig Chalmers has signed up two of Edinburgh's stand-offs, Phil Godman and Alex Blair, the former Edinburgh Accies youngster who has joined Edinburgh full-time and who worked under Chalmers with the Scotland under-20s last season. The Greenyards coach is hopeful that Blair may be available this term as he vies with Godman, his brother David and fellow teenager Gregor Hunter for the Edinburgh No10 jersey, and that he can continue to develop the young talent.
"There was a mix among clubs keen to draft 'their own' players such as Selkirk in snapping up Lee Jones and Watsonians taking Stuart McInally, and simply studying who they believed would be available, hence Stirling County claiming Melrose's new Edinburgh centre James King and Heriot's drafting former West of Scotland lock Rob Harley. Coaches also looked at the opportunity to have leading lights such as Chris Paterson (Hawick) and Alex Grove and Netani Talei (both Selkirk) perhaps unavailable to play but available for some coaching or club ambassadorial work."
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