Jake Dalziel reveals the two Scotland men shaping his rapid rise in dark blue
Rugby Junior World Championship continue with Fergus Pringle’s under 20s facing Argentina in the fifth place play-off semi-finals.
This year’s Junior World Championship’s have raised the stock of emerging fly-half Jake Dalziel even further with the playmaker aiming to help Scotland under 20s equal their best ever finish in the competition.
Fergus Pringle's team face Argentina on Sunday in Georgia in the fifth place play-off semi-finals with the Melrose native having been one of a number of individuals who have stood out in dark blue. It’s all the more impressive considering the young man, who signed a contract with Newcastle Red Bull earlier this summer, won’t turn 18-years-old until next month.
He credits two people currently involved in the Scotland senior set-up with having helped shape his career to date. One is his dad John, the current national team forward’s coach, and the other is Finn Russell who the teenager has great admiration for.
Finn Russell an inspiration for Scotland under 20 fly-half but family ties are where it all began
“Dad’s a big one,” explained the younger Dalziel. “He’s the reason why I started playing rugby, then he’s been massive just letting me do my thing throughout my life and then helping me whenever he can with rugby stuff. He’s just been a really good role model for me. And with his work ethic and everything he brings to his job, he’s a real inspiration for me kicking on to good things in my career.
“And then on the rugby side of things, I think people like Finn Russell that play in my position - it’s massive being able to look up to him from such a young age and now being in the environment where I’m getting to train against him. There are things I can keep taking from him - he’s really good to watch, so that’s somewhere I want to be.”
Excitement is high for the playmaker to have a promising and long career in the Scotland set-up but, for now, the focus is on the 2026 World Championships. The winner of the game against Los Pumas face either Wales or Australia to secure fifth.
“The way the coaches have put together our time out here has been really good in terms of getting our balance right.” added Dalziel. “I just love playing rugby as much as possible, and this has been a really good way of learning whilst doing that.”
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