THE Scottish Rugby Union has declared 2013 to be a year of development at Test level and that international results will not affect the future of coach Scott Johnson.

SCOTT Johnson set himself a number of clear targets for the summer tour to South Africa and as well as testing out the strength in depth was a desire to instil new belief in Scottish rugby.

Two brothers from Alford Basketball Club have been selected to play for Scotland at U12 and U13 level this
 year.

SCOTT Johnson has dismissed suggestions that his Scotland squad were soft against Samoa and suffered the consequences both in a first Test defeat to the South Sea Islanders and a squad floored by injury.

SCOTLAND have tasked Scott Johnson and Sean Lineen to scour the world and unearth new Scottish talent, but judging by the latest round of debutants selected for Test duty the programme is already working.

THE changing face of South African rugby could not feature a more engaging and quietly ambitious individual than Heyneke Meyer. And the fulfilment this week of a childhood dream will mark another milestone for the Springboks coach.

SCOTLAND prop Jon Welsh talks to The Scotsman’s Chief Rugby Writer David Ferguson at the national side’s training camp in South Africa.

WATCH an exclusive interview with David Denton and Peter Horne, as David Ferguson travels with the Scotland team on their South African tour.

SCOTLAND have been forced to postpone naming their team to face South Africa by 48 hours after Edinburgh prop Geoff Cross became the second player to be ruled out of the summer tour.

CRESCENT 157 BANCHORY Ist XI 160 for 4

Sweden’s Alex Hjalmarsson completed a hat-trick of World One-armed Championship successes at Ballater Golf Club this afternoon when he beat Reinhard Schuhknecht (South Africa) by 4 and 2 in the final.

Scotland claim they will start as underdogs when they tackle Samoa in Durban tomorrow at the outset of the quadrangular tournament that also features hosts South Africa and Italy.

THE Scotland rugby squad has rallied round prop Ryan Grant after he was again overlooked by the British and Irish Lions coaches and insist it will be their loss and Scots’ gain.

THE SCOTSMAN’S David Ferguson is on tour with the Scotland rugby squad in South Africa where he will providing regular video updates.

In this episode, Scotland captain Kelly Brown and team-mate Greig Laidlaw talk of the national side’s prospects both short and long term.

Banchory 1st XI 205 for 7

Aboyne

CRATHES Croquet Club celebrated a successful end to its first full season with the presentation of the Burnett Cup at Crathes Castle last month.

Banchory 2nd XI 169 all out

Cammachmore......... ..........3

BANCHORY 2ND X1 184 FOR 7