Strathallan School pupil Joe T will tackle Commonwealth Rugby 7s for Scotland this summer.
Joe Townshend will represent Scotland in August as he prepares to play against the Commonwealth’s top teams in Trinidad and Tobago.
This year’s Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games will see the first appearance of a Scottish Men’s Rugby 7s team at a Youth Games since the Isle of Man Games in 2011.
Current Captain of School at Strathallan school, Joe was selected for the Scottish U18 team earlier this year. He said it was a dream come true to play for Scotland in the upcoming Rugby 7s.
“I’m really excited, it’s an amazing experience. It’s a high-level tournament but we have an exceptional team who are working well together.”
Joe, who first started playing rugby when he was 7 years-old, fell in love with the sport at Belhaven Hill School before moving to Strathallan in Third Form. Now, a Strathallan Rugby Academy player, Joe relished the challenge of transitioning from the traditional 15s game to the lightning-fast 7s format.
“It’s a whole different ball game,” he said. “The fitness demands are intense, but I’m enjoying the change of pace. It’s fast and furious.”
Joe isn’t the only Strathallan student making their mark for Scotland and Great Britain this summer.
As he heads to Trinidad and Tobago, he will join fellow Strathallan student Evan D who will be making a splash in the pool for Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Youth Games. Evan will also compete for Team GB in the European Olympic Youth Festival in July.
Fellow Strathallan Rugby Academy player Lottie R could also wear the navy jersey this summer after she was selected for the Scottish U18 Women’s 7s Training Squad last month. She is currently going through five weeks of training before a squad is named for a Rugby Europe tournament in Prague later this month.
We wish all our students and former pupils all the very best as they continue to compete at an international-level for Scotland and the United Kingdom.
Categories: School News Strathallan School
