BATH scrum half Andy Nicol will captain Scotland on their summer tour of South Africa. Nicol, who did not appear in this season's Five Nations Championship, takes over the captaincy from Rob Wainwright who has been selected for the Lions tour to South Africa.
Leading the Scots is a big honour for Nicol who saw Bryan Redpath and Gary Armstrong share the Scotland number nine jersey this season.
Nicol has had a catalogue of injuries since he joined Bath from Dundee HSFP and has only just recovered from a dislocated elbow.
He will be joined by his Bath colleagues Dave Hilton and Eric Peters. Flanker Peters has been out for two months with a broken hand and is set to make his come back against Orrell in the Courage League this weekend.
The Scots will play four provincial sides and Zimbabwe on their tour which runs parallel to the Lions excursion to South Africa.
There are 14 uncapped players in the 30 man squad and the big surprise is the inclusion of Scotland under 21 centre Jamie Mayer.
The selectors have left out the experienced Redpath as well as Peter Wright and Graham Ellis, who both played in Five Nations Championships.
Scotland's director of Rugby Jim Telfer revealed: "The tour was originally a development exercise, but when the South African Board took over all the arrangements in terms of fixtures it became a much stronger itinerary. Hence we had to pick an appropriate group of players," said Telfer.
The Scots rugby boss added: "South Africa is the place to be in the summer. It will be a tough tour and the players will have to realise that."
Tour manager Doug Morgan explained the reasons for calling up the promising Mayer.
"Jamie got his chance with Watsonians this season and performed well," he said. The Scotland A coaching duo of Graham Hogg and Hugh Campbell will join Morgan in South Africa.
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