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Dream of Playing for Scotland

SHIRE RUGBY FANATIC Bruce McNeil is hoping a six weeks trip to New Zealand will help him to achieve his dream of playing for Scotland.

Eighteen-years-old Bruce, who lives at Cairnpat Farm, Lochans, will be jetting out on 29th June as a member of a Glasgow District Under-19 squad to North Island.

There, as well as playing as a touring team, the players will join individual families and play Southern Hemisphere rugby at the grass roots level.

"I am hoping to learn an awful lot", Bruce, who plays prop for Glasgow Thistle, told the "Free Press" this week. "That is why we are going out, to learn".

Aim of those organising the tour is to go some way to improve rugby in Scotland.

"I am getting quite excited", said Bruce, who works with agricultural contractor Brian Paxton as well as on the family farm. "I am looking forward to going. I can not wait".

He is hoping that the experience he gains in one of the world's leading rugby nations will stand him in good stead.

"My ambition is to play for Scotland. This should help me by giving me a lot of experience. Over there they play rugby like we follow football in Scotland. It is their first sport".