Scotland Player Biographies

Following are brief biographies of the Scottish World Cup squad:

JIM TELFER (coach). Regarded as one of the finest forwards coaches in the world, due to stand down after the World Cup. The 59-year-old hands over to Ian McGeechan in November. First appointed as national coach in 1980, taking Scotland to the 1984 Grand Slam, and returned as assistant coach for the 1990 Grand Slam and 1991 World Cup. His greatest achievement came in 1997 when he helped the Lions achieve their 2-1 test series win over South Africa. Coached Melrose to four Scottish club championship titles. Won 25 caps for Scotland, 10 as captain, between 1964-1970. Toured with the Lions in 1966 to Australia and New Zealand and in 1968 to South Africa.

GLENN METCALFE. Full-back/wing. Age 28. Height 1.82m. Weight 85kg. Caps: 10. Emerged as one of Scotland's most exciting players, collecting the man-of-the-match award in the April victory over France in Paris. New Zealand-born, he qualifies through a maternal grandmother. Played seven times for Waikato at senior provincial level in New Zealand.

KENNY LOGAN. Wing/full-back. Age 27. 1.86m. 88kg. Caps: 41. Increasingly accomplished kicker. Scored 26 points as Scotland completed their build-up for the World Cup with victory over Romania. Only the seventh Scot to pass 100 points in internationals. Plays with Wasps in London.

CAMERON MURRAY. Wing/centre. Age 24. 1.80m. 83kg. Caps: 11. Debut as a replacement for the injured Craig Chalmers against England in March last year, then appeared in all three Tests against Fiji and Australia as a centre. Played as a wing South Africa in November and featured throughout the Five Nations, also as a wing.

SHAUN LONGSTAFF. Wing/centre. Age 27. 1.86m. 98kg. Caps: 10. Born in Wellington, New Zealand. Won his first cap as a replacement against France in February 1998, having become eligible in the summer of 1997 after living in the country for three years.

JOHN LESLIE. Centre. Age 28. 1.86m. 91kg. Caps: Six. Born and bred in New Zealand, qualifies for Scotland through a paternal grandfather and won his first cap against South Africa in November. Relying on guile and intelligence rather than power, proved hugely influential in the Five Nations Championship success this year, scoring a try against Wales within 10 seconds of the kick-off. Played more than 120 games for Otago and 32 for the Otago Highlanders in the Super 12. His father Andy, a back row forward, captained the All Blacks 10 times between 1974-1976.

ALAN TAIT. Centre/wing. Age 35. 1.83m. 87kg. Caps: 24. Scored his 16th try for Scotland in August against Romania. Last season scored five tries in Five Nations, including two each against England and France. A former rugby league international for Great Britain, returned to union after the advent of professionalism, appearing for Newcastle, then Edinburgh Reivers and playing for the 1997 British Lions.

JAMIE MAYER. Centre. Age 22. 1.78m. 92kg. Caps: One. Played in three games on the summer tour of Fiji and Australia last year before making his international debut in November against South Africa, as well as playing in the World Cup qualifying matches against Portugal and Spain.

JAMES McLAREN. Centre. Age 27. 1.90m. 105kg. Caps: Two. Scored his first try in the 60-19 win against Romania at Hampden Park in August, just after making his debut against Argentina. Played league for the Canberra Raiders during one of two spells in Australia. Joined French side Bourgoin last year.

GREGOR TOWNSEND. Flyhalf. Age 26. 1.82m. 84kg. Caps: 41. Confirmed his prodigious talent by becoming only the second Scot to score a try in each Five Nations match in a season. Missed the 1995 World Cup with a knee injury but played a key role in the 1997 Lions series victory in South Africa. Graduated from Edinburgh University with a degree in history and politics. Has scored 59 international points, including 10 tries.

DUNCAN HODGE. Flyhalf. Age 25. 1.80m. 94kg. Caps: Eight. Scored all 10 of Scotland's points in the defeat to South Africa in November, including his second try for his country.

CHRIS PATERSON. Flyhalf. Age 21. 1.83m. 76kg. Caps: 0. Broke through last season with Gala. Signed by Edinburgh Reivers, he went on tour with Scotland, playing one game, against Mpumalanga in South Africa.

GARY ARMSTRONG (captain) Scrumhalf. Age 33. 1.75m. 91kg. Caps: 47. Both tenacious and fearless. Equalled Roy Laidlaw's record as Scotland's most capped scrumhalf with his last cap against Romania. Captained the side to the 1999 Five Nations championship. Has a history of serious injuries during an 11-year international career. Fought back after bad knee injuries in 1992 and 1994. A British Lion in 1989.

BRYAN REDPATH. Scrumhalf. Age 28. 1.70m. 79kg. Caps 29. Captained Scotland for the first time in a full international against South Africa in November but missed the successful Five Nations Championship campaign through injury. Played at under-18 and under-21 level and toured to the South Pacific in 1993, Argentina in 1994 and played in three of four matches in the 1995 World Cup.

IAIN FAIRLEY. Scrumhalf/centre. Age 26. 1.78m. 89kg. Caps: Two. Made his debut against Italy in March when he replaced the injured Armstrong. Last year gained a late call-up to the tour of Fiji and Australia as a replacement for the injured Andy Nicol. Played at centre for Kelso in 1997-98.

STUART REID. Number eight. Age 29. 1.88m. 101kg. Caps: Three. Made his debut against Western Samoa in 1995 but had to wait until the final match of the 1999 Five Nations to collect his second cap. Now plays for Narbonne in France.

MARTIN LESLIE. Flanker. Age 27. 1.89m. 96kg. Caps: Seven. Like his brother John, has become an integral part of the team since arriving in the country last October from New Zealand. A versatile back row player, fits the bill for Scotland's mobile style of play, having scored three tries. Former New Zealand under-21 cap who represented Wellington Hurricanes in the Super 12.

PETER WALTON. Flanker. Age 30. 1.90m. 116kg. Caps: 21. Made his debut in 1994. His driving play is now recognised as essential to bolster a lightweight pack. Born in England, he qualifies through residence and his schooling in Edinburgh.

BUDGE POUNTNEY. Flanker. Age 25. 1.86m. 97kg. Caps: Seven. Won his first cap against South Africa last year, becoming a key member of the back row in the Five Nations. Having a Channel Islands-born grandmother allowed him to play for any of the home nations but, despite representing England at under-21 level, opted for Scotland.

CAMERON MATHER. Flanker. Age 27. 1.98m. 105kg. Caps: One. Born in New Zealand, won his one cap as a substitute in Scotland's win over Romania in August. Put himself in the frame on the tours to South Africa in 1997 and 1999 and to Fiji and Australia in 1998. Qualifies through a Scottish grandfather.

GORDON SIMPSON. Flanker. Age 27 (Born 21.9.71). 1.86m. 108kg. Caps: Four. Auckland-born, made his debut in the first Test against Australia in Sydney last year. Played 30 games for Wellington from 1994 and played for Wellington Hurricanes in the 1996 Super 12. Qualifies for Scotland through his maternal grandfather.

SCOTT MURRAY. Lock. Age 23. 1.98m. 107kg. Caps: 14. Another major talent, gaining the man-of-the-match prize against Wales and England this year and winning Scotland's player-of-the-season award. A Scottish Schools basketball cap, makes up for a lack of weight with superb hands and mobility.

STUART GRIMES. Lock. Age 25. 1.95m. 108kg. Caps: 15. Spectacular rise from social rugby at Edinburgh University in his first year to becoming one of the best second-row forwards Scotland has seen. Mobile with good hands and a good rugby brain, exactly the credentials coach Jim Telfer has sought to develop in his players. Scored the try of the tournament in the last Five Nations after a move that went the full length of the field.

DODDIE WEIR. Lock. Age 29. 2.01m. 115kg. Caps: 54. Became ninth Scot to reach 50 caps when playing against England at the end of the 1997-98 Five Nations. A fans' favourite, seemed set to win a British Lions test place in 1997 until Marius Bosman stamped on his knee in game against Mpumalanga to end his tour. Voted player of the year in 1997 International record: 54 caps.

ANDY REED. Lock. Age 30. 2.01m. 116kg. Caps: 17. Born in Cornwall in England, has Scottish grandparents while his mother was born in Edinburgh. Converted from football -- he played in goal -- to rugby with Cornwall, Bath and then Wasps. First capped against Ireland in 1993, toured New Zealand with the 1993 British Lions, playing in the first Test.

TOM SMITH. Prop. Age 27. 1.78m. 105kg. Caps: 10. Rose to prominence in 1997, excelling on his debut against England and became a surprise first choice for the Lions, playing in all three tests in South Africa. A groin injury wrecked the next season, he returned this year, only to break a leg against Ireland.

PAUL BURNELL. Prop. Age 34. 1.86m. 111kg. Caps: 49. Set to play in his third World Cup, having returned as first-choice tighthead against England in March last year after an absence of more than two years. First capped against England in 1989 and played in the 1990 Grand Slam success. Played in the British Lions' first Test in New Zealand in 1993. Now based in France with Montferrand.

GEORGE GRAHAM. Prop. Age 33. 1.75m. 112kg. Caps: Eight. After playing for Scotland B against Italy in 1987, became frustrated and switched to rugby league but returned to union with Newcastle in 1995. A dynamic player in the modern mould, made his international debut as a replacement against Australia at Murrayfield in 1997.

DAVID HILTON. Prop. Age 29. 1.80m. 115kg. Caps: 35. Born in Bristol, England but qualifes for Scotland through a paternal grandfather. A Bath player over the past few years, joined Glasgow Caledonians at the start of this season, taking the place of rival Tom Smith. Made his debut in 1995.

GORDON BULLOCH. Hooker. 24. 1.82m. 97kg. Caps: 15. One of a new breed of young Scots. His career took off after the 1996 student World Cup in South Africa. Won his first full cap in December, 1997, against South Africa.

ROBERT RUSSELL. Hooker. Age 23. 1.78m. 96kg. Caps: One. Born in Brisbane, Australia. Won his one cap against Romania at Hampden Park in August, seven months after returning for his second stint in Scottish rugby. Dynamic player, qualifies for Scotland through his Edinburgh grandfather.

Reuters contributed to this report.