Beattie Leads Shoguns for First Time
Bristol Shoguns’ first pre-season warm-up game of their Irish tour will see Scottish number eight Ross Beattie lead out the team for the first time as captain.
Beattie will lead out a Shoguns fifteen against Munster at Thomond Park on Tuesday evening (kick off 7pm), that includes recent England cap Phil Christophers, new centre signing Martin Shaw and a second row of Garath Archer and Andrew Sheridan.
Commenting about Beattie’s
appointment as captain and his first opportunity to lead the team out, Shoguns coach Peter Thorburn said:
“Ross had a great role model last year in Jason Little. But being captain of the team is not just about leading on the field, it
includes organisational responsibilities and being a major link
between the players and the coaching team. The first game against Munster will be good experience for him.”
The clash against last year’s losing Heineken Cup finalist will see
the Shoguns line up with a new centre partnership of Tom Luke and recent new signing Martin Shaw. Luke is a 19 year-old Academy player who was signed by the Shoguns from Bath during the summer. He has represented England
Students at U19 level and is currently studying at Bath University.
Thorburn was quick to comment on Martin Shaw who joined the Shoguns in July.
“We’ve already seen him play!!” referring to Shaw’s hat trick of tries
against the Shoguns in April’s Zurich Premiership fixture.
The line-up against Munster also sees a first team debut for Shoguns and England U21 scrum-half Paul Hodgson. Discussing the new players Thorburn added: “It’s going to be a good opportunity to see them all in a game situation.”
Bristol Shoguns Lee Best, Phil Christophers, Tom Luke, Martin Shaw, Brendon Daniel, Shane Drahm, Paul Hodgson, Ross Beattie (c), Michael Lipman, Chris Morgan,
Garath Archer, Andrew Sheridan, Emiliano Bergamaschi, Neil McCarthy, Darren Crompton.