One change for Bates as Reivers sign Scotland lock
25 May 2006, 3:32 pm
By Jonathan McConnell
Border Reivers head coach Steve Bates has made only one change to the team that played Ulster two weeks ago.
The change sees flanker Scott Gray being handed a starting berth in place of Kelly Brown.
The Border Reivers are also pleased to announce today that five-time Scotland cap Craig Hamilton has signed to the club on a two-year-deal.
Lock Hamilton, currently with Glasgow Warriors, was born in Dumfries and won his first cap on the 2004 summer tour to Australia.
Hamilton said: “I’m really looking forward to challenging myself with the Borders next season.
“I have played with George Graham before and I can’t wait to start training under the leadership of Steve Bates. I already know a lot of the players in the Reivers squad through our connection with the Scotland team and they’re a great bunch of guys.”
Bates added: “Craig has a lot of great attributes and is a great ball player. Physically he has got what you need to play in the second row and I am positive we will get the very best out of him here at the Borders.”
Border Reivers team to play Newport-Gwent Dragons in the Celtic League at Netherdale on Friday 26 May (kick-off 7:30pm)
15 Stuart Moffat
14 Simon Danielli
13 Ben MacDougall
12 Calum MacRae
11 Nikki Walker
10 Gregor Townsend
9 Brendan McKerchar
1 Paul Thomson (CAPTAIN)
2 Steve Scott
3 Bruce Douglas
4 Scott MacLeod
5 Opeta Palepoi
6 John Dalziel
7 Andy Miller
8 Semo Sititi
Substitutes:
16 Will Kay
17 Tom McGee
18 Mark Blair
19 Colin Stewart
20 Ciaran Beattie
21 Charlie Hore
22 Garry Law
