Zander Fagerson successor, judicious jackler, booming kicker - 8 young Scottish rugby stars to watch

Some of those players have already had a taste of senior rugby, others are about to experience a baptism of fire in the United Rugby Championship, and all will have to come up with the on-field answer to a key question: do they have what it takes to realise their potential and thrive in the pro game?

And, with the Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership kicking off next weekend, some of the country’s leading young club players will be out to prove they deserve to be drafted into the pro ranks. Here is The Scotsman’s selection of eight of the best young male players who are set to make their impact in the season ahead.

Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh)

Still only 19, the titanic tighthead prop has been earmarked as a player of immense promise since his earliest days with Boroughmuir. At 6ft 4in and around 136kg, he has a formidable physique, and at his current rate of progress seems sure to mature into a regular member of the full national team.

In fact, without wishing to put too much pressure on the Scotland Under-20 cap, all being well he should become the long-term successor to Zander Fagerson as the full international side’s first choice in the pivotal position.

Jack Brown (Edinburgh)

Replacing Emiliano Boffelli is a tall order - when fit, the now-departed Argentine is one of the best players in the world. But full-back Brown’s big, booming boot is reminiscent of Boffelli’s ability in that department, and, although the Scotland Under-20 international has stiff competition from the likes of Harry Paterson, he is robust enough, and sufficiently strong in the air, to be able to perform well for the capital club when called upon.

Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh)

You do not have to be Nostradamus to confidently predict that the openside from the capital has a big future ahead of him. After all, he has captained Scotland Under-20s, made his full international debut last season against Portugal, and even before that game was hailed as “world-class already” by national assistant coach John Dalziel.

Having said all that, he has still only played a handful of games at senior level - something which will surely change over the coming months. His judicious jackaling, in particular, is a formidable weapon that should prove invaluable to Edinburgh.

Macenzzie Duncan (Glasgow)

Having joined the Warriors’ academy in time for the start of last season, the back-row forward was selected for the Emerging Scotland squad that played Italy Under 23s in December, two months before he made his Warriors debut off the bench in the win against the Dragons. He then went on to make his first start in the last match of the regular URC season against Leinster, playing at blindside rather than what has been seen as his primary position, No 8. With Jack Mann as well as Venter having moved on from Scotstoun, Glasgow need the likes of Duncan to prove themselves worthy of regular places in the 23.

Joe Roberts (Glasgow)

A regular with the Scotland Under-20s side, the 19-year-old faces an unenviable task at Scotstoun this season: competing with no fewer than six other hookers who are also trying to earn a place in the Warriors’ matchday squads. In addition to his national age-group team-mate and rival Seb Stephen, Aberdonian Roberts has to contend with Gregor Hiddleston, Johnny Matthews, Angus Fraser, Grant Stewart and new signing Tavi Tuipulotu.

Roberts was one of three hookers on the bench when a depleted Warriors side beat Connacht back in January, so he has already had some recognition. The logjam in the position is surely in no-one’s longer-term interests, but for the time being at least it will be fascinating to watch the battle royale for regular places in the Glasgow matchday squad.

Corey Tait (Selkirk)

Although a place in either the Warriors or the Edinburgh academy is the orthodox route to a professional contract for young players in Scotland, the new pathway system devised by SRU performance director David Nucifora makes allowances for late developers or those who simply might have been overlooked - and Selkirk hooker Tait is one player who could yet benefit from that system.

A member of the Glasgow academy before returning to the club game, the former Hawick player turned out for Boroughmuir Bears in Super6 before moving on to Selkirk. His position is just about the most competitive in the country at present (see Joe Roberts, above), but a good run of form in the Premiership could help the former under-20 international get back on the radar of the pro teams again.

Matthew Urwin (Glasgow)

After being the first-choice stand-off for Scotland Under-20s in the recent World Championship, the 20-year-old will surely press hard this coming season for a place in some of Franco Smith’s matchday squads. Adam Hastings and new signings Dan Lancaster and Charlie Savala are all probably ahead of him in the pecking order for the Warriors No 10 jersey, but he needs - and deserves - to get his chance sooner rather than later.

Cameron van Wyk (Glasgow)

After some stand-out performances in the Premiership with Ayr, the 19-year-old winger made his debut for Scotland Under-20s earlier this year against England, then scored his first try for the team with an acrobatic dive against France. Born in South Africa, he qualifies for Scotland as his mother is from Kilmarnock.

He made his debut for the Warriors’ ‘A’ team in the friendly against Black Lion in May and is now in the Glasgow academy squad. With Argentine duo Sebastian Cancelliere and Facundo Cordero among those to have left Scotstoun at the end of last season, Van Wyk should come into head coach Smith’s thinking before too long.