News & Features Glasgow Warriors Scotland Men U20

Five Warriors Academy players selected for Scotland U20 fifth-place play-off

16 Jul 2026

Five Glasgow Warriors Senior Academy players have been named in Scotland U20's matchday squad for Friday's World Rugby Junior World Championship fifth-place final against Wales in Tbilisi.

Scotland will be aiming to equal their best-ever finish at the tournament after an outstanding 44-26 victory over Argentina secured their place in the play-off.

Hooker Joe Roberts continues as captain after another influential display in Monday’s win, scoring two tries to help Scotland book their place in the fifth-place final. Roberts is joined in the starting pack by Oliver McKenna, who returns at loose-head prop, and Dan Halkon, who continues in the second row after starting every match of the Championship.

In the backs, Alex Bryden retains his place at inside centre following his start against Argentina while prop Jackson Rennie is named among the replacements.

Scotland’s victory over Argentina saw the young Scots produce one of their strongest performances of the tournament, with Roberts scoring twice.

Victory on Friday would see Scotland equal their highest-ever finish at a World Rugby Junior World Championship, matching the fifth-place finish achieved in 2017.

Scotland U20 team to play Wales in the 2026 World Rugby Junior Championship on Friday 17 July at the Avchala Stadium Tbilisi Georgia (kick-off 8.30pm local time, 5.30pm BST) – live on Premier Sports and Rugby Pass TV:

15. Rory McHaffie (Edinburgh Rugby)
14. Daniel Kelly (Edinburgh Rugby)
13. Henry Kesterton (Edinburgh Rugby)
12. Alex Bryden (Glasgow Warriors)
11. Nairn Moncrieff (Edinburgh Rugby)
10. Jake Dalziel (Merchiston Castle/Newcastle Red Bulls) Vice-Captain
9. Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens RFC)

1. Oliver McKenna (Glasgow Warriors)
2. Joe Roberts (Glasgow Warriors) Captain
3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby)
4. Alfie Blackett (Cardiff Metropolitan University)
5. Dan Halkon (Glasgow Warriors)
6. Christian Lindsay (Edinburgh Rugby)
7. Jack Utterson (Edinburgh Rugby)
8. Harvey Preston (Glasgow Hawks)

Replacements

16. Jamie McAughtrie (Ayr RFC)
17. Jamie Stewart (Edinburgh Rugby)
18. Jackson Rennie (Glasgow Warriors)
19. Finlay Mather (Grammar Tec)
20. Oliver Finlayson Russell (University of St Andrews)
21. Matthew Fick (Edinburgh Rugby)
22. Calum Jessop (Heriots RFC)
23. Ewan Caven (Gloucester Rugby/Nottingham University)