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South Africa’s twin age-grade stars Josh and James Mackenzie have emerged as long-term Scotland targets, with the country’s rugby bosses ramping up their search for southern hemisphere talent.
In a bid to add greater depth to their national team and their two domestic sides Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh, Scotland are scouring the world for players who are currently abroad but qualify to wear a blue shirt at Test level.
Edinburgh have confirmed the signing of two New Zealand-born, Scottish-qualified backs for next season, centre Riley Higgins and scrum-half Louie Chapman, who play for the Hurricanes and Crusaders respectively. Bayley Kuenzle, an Australian-born utility back with the Western Force, is also nearing a move to Franco Smith’s Glasgow.
The SRU’s performance department, headed up by Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend and director David Nucifora, are leaving no stone unturned in their bid for success. South Africa, who have won the past two World Cups and will be looking to become the first nation to win three straight global showpieces in Australia next year, is also being mined for talent.
Josh Mackenzie, who can play as a lock or back row, has represented the Springboks at Under-18 level but trained with Glasgow on their recent trip to South Africa for United Rugby Championship defeats by the Lions and Stormers. So too did his twin brother James, a centre or wing. They are both at South Africa’s Kingswood College, which also produced Zimbabwe-born former Scotland lock David Denton.
While in Scotland last year, James Mackenzie also trained with Edinburgh and was pictured with Scotland’s South African-born prop Pierre Schoeman. It is unclear at this stage how the Mackenzie brothers will qualify for Scotland.
Josh Mackenzie (centre) training with Glasgow earlier this year. The forward is now on Scotland’s radar to switch allegiance from South Africa
James Mackenzie (right) has trained with Edinburgh and was pictured with their South African-born prop Pierre Schoeman
Scotland have made great strides in bringing in qualified players from the southern hemisphere, including Duhan van der Merwe (centre) and captain Sione Tuipulotu (right)
Back Harry Soboil, who has been with Edinburgh since February, was this month part of a Scotland Under 19s squad who took on Italy. Soboil’s roots are also South African. He stood out for Rondebosch Boys’ High 1st XV last year and was selected for the Western Province Under 18s Academy Week squad. Rondebosch is the alma mater of South Africa legend Joel Stransky, as well as cricketers Jonathan Trott and Gary Kirsten, and former Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey.
The moves form part of a long-term strategy for Scotland, who have struggled to bring through talent in their own age-group system, previously falling out of the top tier of the Junior World Cup system.
Of Townsend’s squad which finished third in this year’s Six Nations, captain Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Kyle Steyn, Tom Jordan, Fergus Burke, Schoeman and Jack Dempsey all have their roots in the southern hemisphere.
Even with a so-called ‘golden generation’ of players led by star playmaker Finn Russell, Scotland are yet to finish in the top two of the Six Nations or reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, and there is a concern a host of their more senior figures could step away from Test duty after the 2027 tournament in Australia.
It looks likely that Townsend will be among them, moving into a role with Newcastle Red Bulls, and Smith his most likely successor. But whoever is in charge in the long run, Scotland are looking to ensure their next coach has the best possible players to choose from.
