Head coach Mark McKenzie has named 17-year old former Scotland pentathlete, Jamie Farndale, as the rugby sevens captain for the Commonwealth Youth Games which get underway on the Isle of Man this week (Wednesday 7 September).

The youngster represented Edinburgh’s under-16 rugby sides in 2009 and 2010 while sprinting for Scottish Schools and represented his country in this multi-discipline event against familiar rugby foes Wales, England and Ireland.

Farndale, who now trains full-time with Edinburgh Rugby as part of Scottish Rugby’s elite development programme (EDP), first earned age-grade international notoriety when he scored the winning try for Scotland under-18 against their English counterparts in March.

He said: “First I was honoured just to be selected for a tournament that happens just once every four years but I’m absolutely delighted to be asked to captain the side and I’m looking forward to doing my best for Youth Team Scotland.

“I’m definitely going to keep playing the way I play now and not focus too much on the captaincy. I want to lead by example. Teamwork is vital in rugby, especially in sevens, as the whole team is involved throughout the competition and has to play their part.

“We’ve met with all the other sports and athletes, including some familiar faces that I used to sprint against. It was really interesting because we got to chat about the differences in how we train and prepare, but it brought home the importance of being part of Youth Team Scotland and not individual Scottish teams. It makes for a great atmosphere and is going to be really enjoyable.

“We’ve trained hard as a group and alongside the senior sevens team which has given us confidence in our ability and what we need to do as a team. We’re all really looking forward to getting stuck in.”

Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “On behalf of Commonwealth Games Scotland I would like to congratulate Jamie on his selection as captain for the Rugby 7s team at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man next week. It is always a great honour to be selected to represent your country, but to be further recognised as having the required attributes to lead your team is exceptional and I am sue he will do an outstanding job both on and off the field of play.”

Adam Ashe from Alva, Clackmannanshire has been named as vice-captain.

Scotland have drawn tough opposition in Pool A of the Games, and will face Youth Games’ hosts, the Isle of Man, Australia and Canada at the Bowl Stadium.

In the opposing Pool B, England have been drawn with South Africa, Sri Lanka and Trinidad & Tobago. Each Pool will battle it out before progressing to the medal matches the following day (Sunday).

Scotland’s squad for the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games: Adam Ashe (Scotland 7s/Glasgow Warriors EDP/Stirling County), Chris Auld (Austin Friars School/Gala), Will Bordill (Sale Sharks), Chris Dean (Edinburgh Academy), James Farndale CAPTAIN (Edinburgh Rugby EDP/Edinburgh Accies), Robbie Fergusson (Ayr), Alex Galashan (Edinburgh Academy), Neil Herron (West of Scotland), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Scotland 7s, Edinburgh Rugby EDP/Heriot’s), Damien Hoyland (Boroughmuir), Shaun MacDonald (Stirling County) and Scott Steele (Watsonians).