Scots withdrawn from club games

Barclay and Kellock will not feature for Glasgow for the rest of the season

Andy Robinson has withdrawn five members of his Scotland squad from club duty until the end of the season.

Edinburgh’s Allan Jacobsen and Ross Ford and Glasgow Warriors’ Richie Gray, John Barclay and Alastair Kellock are to be rested for the Rugby World Cup.

“It’s based on individual players and their programmes,” said Robinson.

Warriors coach Sean Lineen and Edinburgh counterpart Nick Scrivener are said to be disappointed but understanding of the situation.

The Rugby World Cup starts in September, the same month as Edinburgh and Glasgow’s Magners League campaigns are likely to begin.

Ford and Jacobsen are regulars in the Edinburgh line-up

Glasgow captain Kellock skippered the Scots in the recent Six Nations campaign but has struggled with injury this season.

He partnered Gray in the second row for Scotland behind prop Jacobsen and hooker Ford with Barclay usually deployed at openside flanker.

Both of the Scottish club sides are currently in the Magners League’s bottom four and over 20 points behind the end of season play-off places with four games each to play.

“This is a decision that’s not been taken lightly,” added Robinson.

“It’s a reflection on the season and the previous seasons they’ve had and it’s done on an individual basis.

“Richie Gray has doubled his game time this year and he has performed at a higher level of match as well and performed outstandingly well.

“This is for his development for the World Cup, but also for future matches – it’s looking ahead to two, three years time as well.

“(Ford and Jacobsen) have had high game time in the previous three years. They’ve played a lot of rugby and they’ve had high game time this year.

“We feel it’s in the best interests for their development and for the Rugby World Cup that they are made unavailable for Edinburgh now.”

Scottish Rugby’s head of medical services Dr James Robson gave more details about Ford and Jacobsen: “Allan has niggling injuries in his shoulder and back which would respond best to a short period of rest; Ross Ford is fatigued and through circumstances beyond Edinburgh’s direct control they were unable to rest him earlier this season. It is best for Ross that he has that break now.

“Everyone involved in this process acknowledges and appreciates the importance of Edinburgh finishing the season in the strongest possible fashion, but we’re also mindful that next year is a hugely significant one for both club and country and as such our priority has to be the long-term interests of these players.”

Meanwhile, Robinson believes the five players and their clubs will benefit in the long-term from this break.

“It’s not just solely around the World Cup,” added the former England coach.

“We would be looking at this decision even if they were competing for something; we would have had to have this discussion.

“They (Scrivener and Lineen) were disappointed and naturally disappointed, because they want their players to play for the club, but they understood.

“Post-World Cup, I believe you’re going to get a better player coming back ready to play for the pro teams.”