The powerful in-form forwards of both Currie and Ayr dominate the selection up front with almost half coming from the two sides that currently top the Scottish Hydro Premier One; meanwhile the attacking flair of third and fourth-placed Melrose and Dundee provides two-thirds of the Club International back-line.

Donaldson, said: “We invited coaches to nominate players from their own and other clubs and, fortunately, with a lot of games being played on Friday nights and Sundays, myself, Ian Rankin (team manager and Dundee High director of rugby) and Kevin Barrie (forwards coach and head coach of Selkirk) have managed to see all of the teams play, which has allowed us to have a good look at everybody and pick the players who have been performing consistently well.”

The club select will now gather for two squad sessions in preparation for their 2010 internationals against France at Netherdale (Friday 5 February, kick-off 7.30pm) and Ireland away (Friday 19 March, location and kick-off tbc) however the coaches will get the chance to see a number of the players in action together before they take to the field for Scotland.

In addition to in camp preparations, several of the Club International team have been lined up to face Edinburgh Accies under the banner of the Co-Optimists, Scotland’s invitational club, in the traditional festive fixture on Boxing Day (Saturday 26 December, kick-off 2pm).

Rankin said: “We are indebted to the Co-Optimists for their assistance in our preparations. We have liaised with them in order to ensure that a number of contenders for Club International selection can play together in this match.”

Scottish Club International Squad 2009/10

CLUB INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES
Saturday 26 December – Edinburgh Accies v the Co-optimists, Raeburn Place (kick-off 2pm)
Friday 5 February – Scotland Club International v France, Netherdale (kick-off 7.30pm)
Friday 19 March – Scotland Club International v Ireland (location and kick-off tbc)