A pioneering new programme was launched today that will see Scotland’s young rugby stars teaming up with legends of yesteryear in a bid to prepare them for the rigours of a career in international sport.

In a partnership between Scottish Rugby and Winning Scotland Foundation, the Winning Mentors programme allows 25 of Scotland’s brightest young players, including established internationals like John Barclay and Ross Ford, to be guided and encouraged by some of the best-known heroes in the game.

Murrayfield stalwarts like David Sole, Andy Nicol, Finlay Calder and Scott Hastings head up the list of former Scottish internationalists already signed up to the programme.  They will be joined by current players Scott Murray and Chris Paterson, who are the two most-capped Scottish players of all time.

And to top it all off, World Cup winner and former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick is also linking up with the programme.

Young players from Edinburgh Rugby, Glasgow Warriors and the SRU Academy will be given the chance to communicate regularly with their assigned mentors, where they will enjoy the chance for feedback and advice specific to their individual games from men who have represented their country with distinction on the international stage.

The programme is led by former Scotland and British Lion star, Gregor Townsend.  Commenting on the launch, he said:

“This partnership between Winning Scotland Foundation and Scottish Rugby will ensure some of the country’s most promising rugby talent benefit from the guidance and knowledge of some of Scotland and New Zealand’s greatest players.

“As a former rugby internationalist, I know if you want to become the best you have to spend time with the very best.  Through this planned, highly personalised approach, Winning Mentors will help today’s young sportsmen and women find positive solutions to a host of challenges on and off the park, including how to handle raised expectations, dealing with the media, responding positively to loss of form and making informed career decisions.

“Our expectation is that a successful rugby pilot of Winning Mentors will lead in the future to other sports joining the programme.”

Scotland and Glasgow hooker Fergus Thomson will be mentored by former Scotland and British Lions player Colin Deans.  Delighted with the opportunity to learn from such a legend, Thomson commented:

“It’s not often that anybody has access to that level of feedback from someone of his calibre.  It will be a great asset to my game.

“I’m injured at the moment, but I’m looking forward to him looking at my game and seeing what we can do to improve it.  Hopefully we can become good friends and we can utilise that relationship throughout my career.”

The following rugby players and mentors have been selected for the initial four-year pilot phase of the Winning Mentors programme.

Sean Fitzpatrick Ross Ford (hooker) (Edinburgh)
Gordon Bulloch Fraser Brown (hooker) (Academy)
Colin Deans Fergus Thomson (hooker) (Glasgow)
Gary Callander Sean Crombie (hooker) (Edinburgh)
Stuart Grimes Richard Gray (second-row) (Glasgow)
Scott Murray Steven Turnbull (second-row) (Edinburgh)
David Sole John Barclay (flanker) (Glasgow)
Finlay Calder Chris Fusaro (flanker) (Academy)
Jim Calder Richie Vernon (flanker) (Glasgow)
Rob Wainwright John Beattie (no.8) (Glasgow)
Stuart Reid Stuart McInally (no.8) (Academy)
Andy Nicol Mark McMillan (scrum-half) (Glasgow)
Roy Laidlaw Peter Jericevich (scrum-half) (Academy)
Gary Armstrong Greig Laidlaw (scrum-half) (Edinburgh)
Gregor Townsend Phil Godman (Stand-off) (Edinburgh)
David Blair (stand-off) (Edinburgh)
Moray Low (prop) (Glasgow)
Ed Kalman (prop) (Glasgow)
John Rutherford Alex Blair (stand-off) (Academy)
Jim Renwick Nick De Luca (centre) (Edinburgh)
Scott Hastings Ben Cairns (centre) (Edinburgh)
Ian Jardine John Houston (centre) (Edinburgh)
Tony Stanger Max Evans (centre) (Glasgow),
Andy Turnbull (wing) (Edinburgh)
Roger Baird Thom Evans (wing) (Glasgow)
Rowen Shepherd James Thompson (full-back) (Edinburgh)
Chris Paterson Tom Brown (full-back) (Academy)