Ones To Watch: Scotland

Here we take a look at some of the younger players who are beginning to forge their own path in the famous Scottish jersey after breakout performances during the 2017 campaign.

Darcy Graham

Darcy Graham impressed throughout Scotland's Under-20s Six Nations campaign starting all five tournament matches for the Sean Lineen's men.

The Hawick winger, who can also play full-back, is one of the developing young talents in Scottish rugby and, at just 19, has a long career ahead of him.

Graham proved his dangerous running threat in this year's Championship when he scored a try in a losing effort to England as well as dotting down for a double in their only victory against Italy in Round Five.



As the nephew of Scott MacLeod - who was capped 24 times for Scotland - rugby is in Graham's blood and he featured for Hawick in the BT Cup Final at BT Murrayfield as a 17-year-old and won his Scotland Under-20 call-up a year later.

Graham will now look to improve with BT Premiership side Hawick for the remainder of the season after five starts in the Under-20s Six Nations.



Ali Price

Scrum-half Ali Price was thrown in at the deep end in this year's Championship when skipper Greig Laidlaw limped off injured after 20 minutes in Paris.

For so long Price, 23, had to bide his time with Laidlaw so key to the Scottish cause, not only for his leadership and game management but for his exemplary place kicking too.

And when Price entered the cauldron of the Stade de France in Round Two of the Championship, his only previous appearance for his country was seven minutes off the bench against Georgia.

But Price's development throughout the tournament has been clear to see, resuming his club half-back partnership with Finn Russell has been a calming influence.

In Paris Price looked flustered early on but soon settled and in his three subsequent starts his game management and running threat has been crucial to Scotland's victories against Wales and Italy.

Though Laidlaw could continue as captain when he returns from the ankle injury sustained in Paris, Price is almost certain to be involved in Scotland's summer tour Down Under where he can further underline what he can offer his country.



Zander Fagerson

At just 21 years old, Zander Fagerson certainly has bright career ahead of him. After making his Scotland debut in Round One of the 2016 RBS 6 Nations - as a late replacement for WP Nel - Fagerson has come on leaps and bounds and started all five Championship matches this year.

Nel was ruled out of the Championship with a neck injury and head coach Vern Cotter had faith in Fagerson, who plies his club trade at Glasgow Warriors, to fill the void of the experienced tight head.

Fagerson has made eight international starts in his nine caps, retaining the tight head starting berth since his full debut in the narrow defeat to Australia in the autumn.



And it will only work to Fagerson's advantage that the incoming Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend - the current Glasgow Warriors boss - handed him his professional debut for Warriors in 2014 aged just 18.

The youngster's rise has been predicted by many involved in Scottish rugby. Having represented Scotland at under-16, under-18 and under-20 level before earning his senior call-up in January last year, Fagerson has impressed coaches through the ranks.

And a summer tour of Australia is set to improve the young prop further as he continues on his rugby journey.

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