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Hard-working and talented: Henderson latest former pupil to make Scotland rugby squad
June 4, 2021 by Dominic Glasgow

Hard-working and talented: Henderson latest former pupil to make Scotland rugby squad

Strathallan School Director of Rugby Andrew Henderson has expressed his delight at seeing FP Cameron Henderson named in the Scotland men’s rugby squad for the first time.

(Photo credit: Scottish Rugby)

The 21-year-old second-row, who now plays down south with Leicester Tigers in the English top flight, was one of 17 uncapped players listed earlier this week in a youthful looking group that will meet up on June 15 to train ahead of an ‘A’ game with England and then full Tests against Romania and Georgia.


“I am really happy for Cameron, he is hard working and talented and I know he will make the most of this opportunity,” Andrew Henderson said. “While he was with us here at the school, Cameron always wanted to get better and would always put in the ‘extras’ after training to make him the best player that he could be.

“He has carried that on since school with Scotland under-20s, Stirling County and now Leicester and he seems to thrive when he is put into a tough environment.

“To break into a top English club side’s pack of forwards is not easy, but he has shown that he is an aggressive and combative player who does the basics well while he can also play comfortably with ball in hand in open field if given half a chance.

“I am sure he will be very happy with this Scotland call-up and he will get his head down and work hard when he gets into camp to help himself edge even closer to a full cap.”

Henderson is joined in the squad by more experienced former pupils in the shape of back-row Jamie Ritchie, No.8 Matt Fagerson and scrum-half George Horne.

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Twenty-four-year-old Edinburgh Rugby man Ritchie has been named as Captain of his country for the summer with Stuart Hogg away on British & Irish Lions duty - and it is clear that interim Scotland Head Coach Mike Blair rates the man with 27 caps to his name highly.

“Probably when Jamie first came on to the scene four or five seasons ago with Edinburgh, he was someone we immediately identified as having captaincy potential,” Blair said of his skipper.

“He’s got an aura around him and leads from the front, puts his head in places it shouldn’t be. He’s got a lot of respect from the players and he’s got a good rugby brain as well so he ticks a lot of the boxes.

“This was a natural progression for him and we’re delighted he’s going to be Captain this summer for Scotland.”


And Henderson adds: “Jamie had leadership qualities from a young age and they shone through in his last couple of years at school.

“He is a level headed and calm guy and people want to follow him on the pitch because they respect him a lot.

“If he does lead Scotland out as Captain in the two-Test matches that are to come in July then it would make myself and many others who are linked to Strathallan proud because it isn’t every day that you can say you have taught or coached a future international skipper.

“And in general, those of us involved in rugby at the school are just feeling proud right now because there are four former pupils in this squad and others like Ollie Smith and Murphy Walker not far behind on their rugby journeys while, of course, Zander Fagerson is set to tour with the British & Irish Lions this summer.

“The current pupils will get a big boost from watching these guys playing in the coming months and I am sure those on Scotland and Lions duties will represent the school superbly well as they always do.”

Former pupil Abi Evans has also been selected for Scotland this summer and will star in the nation's 7s squad this weekend.


- Written by Gary Heatly


Watch British and Irish Lion Zander Fagerson and fellow former pupil Scotland Captain, Jamie Ritchie discuss their time at Strathallan here:

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