The Test Match series between Scotland and the England Under-21 side has been expanded from three matches to five.
Originally the Tests were scheduled for Armadale, Derwent Park, and Ashfield over the weekend 17th to 19th September. This followed the successful three-match series in 1998 at Armadale, Shielfield, and Shawfield. With the uncertainty surrounding Berwick at the start of the season the second match was allocated to Workington.
Additional matches have now been arranged at Shielfield and Brough Park on 17th and 18th July respectively. This gives a good balance with two Tests at Scottish tracks, two in England and one on the border!
The Scotland squad will be built around the nucleus from the Edinburgh Monarchs team. All bar Peter Carr would have been in contention although David McAllan is clearly ruled out with his injury. Apart from the Edinburgh riders, those in contention will include Scott Lamb, David Meldrum, and Wesley Waite (if fit) from Berwick plus Barry Campbell from Workington.
The heat leaders will probably be James Grieves, Kevin Little and Scott Lamb. Stewart McDonald, Ross Brady, David Meldrum, Barry Campbell, Blair Scott, and Wesley Waite are likely to fill the second string and reserve places. They will probably be selected on a track by track basis.
Riders from the Norhern tracks likely to be considered for the England Under-21 side include Grant MacDonald (Workington), James Birkenshaw (Workington) (if fit), Brian Turner (Glasgow), and Steven Jones (Newcastle).