Uncapped 25-year-old centre Joe Ansbro will make his debut for Scotland in tomorrow’s EMC Autumn Test against South Africa at Murrayfield (kick-off 2.30pm).

Glasgow-born Ansbro replaces Max Evans who has not recovered sufficiently from the shoulder injury he sustained against New Zealand last weekend.

Joe Ansbro will make his Scotland debut against South Africa

Scotland team doctor James Robson said today: “Max is improving all the time and the hope and expectation is that he will be available for selection for next weekend’s international against Samoa.  However, it was felt with the player’s welfare of paramount importance that he was not quite ready for the rigours of a Test match tomorrow.”

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said: “Joe is a talented footballer. We have been monitoring his progress at Northampton closely and he has been getting regular game time this season.

“We took him with Scotland A to the IRB Nations Cup in Romania in 2009 and we believe he has the required qualities to perform in international rugby.”

Ansbro told www.scotlandrugbyteam.org : “It’s the highlight of my rugby career so far to be called up for a game of this magnitude to represent Scotland.

“There’s excitement, pride and a bit of nerves as well, a good mix really.”

JOE ANSBRO (Northampton Saints)
Centre. Born 29.10.1985 in Glasgow. Height 6ft (1.83m). Weight 14st 7lbs (92kg).
Joe Ansbro played for Cambridge in two University match wins against Oxford. His debut for Northampton Saints was as a replacement against Moseley in 2007, and that was followed with a try-scoring first start against Rotherham at Franklin’s Gardens. The Glasgow-born centre opted for the country of his birth when he accepted selection in the Scotland A team for the IRB Nations Cup tournament in Romania in June 2009. Scotland A won that tournament, with Joe making his debut as outside centre in the win against Uruguay
Joe was educated at Gatehouse Primary School (Dumfries and Galloway) and Stonyhurst College (Lancashire), and he went on to take a natural sciences degree at Cambridge. While living near Gatehouse-of-Fleet, he played youth rugby with Stewartry, the Castle Douglas club.  He has now played more than 50 games for Northampton Saints.  Joe becomes the first black player to play international rugby for Scotland.

International record:  uncapped.

As a result of Ansbro's Scotland call-up, Scotland A have altered their back division for tonight's match against the USA at Netherdale (kick-off 7.30pm, admission FREE).
Jim Thompson (Edinburgh) moves from full-back to wing, Jack Cuthbert (Bath) will now wear the No 15 jersey and John Houston (Edinburgh) comes on to the bench.

Tickets for the Scotland v South Africa EMC Autumn Test are priced at £20, £25 and £45 for adults and £10, £12.50 and £22.50 for children and students and are on sale now through three routes – via www.scottishrugby.org; the 24 hour hotline (until midnight tonight, Friday) 0844 335 3933; or in person from 9am-8pm tonight (Friday 19 November) from the Scottish Rugby Ticket Centre, Gate A, Roseburn Street, Edinburgh.  Please note no tickets are on sale on match day.

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EMC’s sponsorship deal also includes the 2011 August Tests against Ireland (Saturday 6 August) and Italy (Saturday 20 August) both at Murrayfield.