Scotland axe falls on Weir

Newcastle captain Doddie Weir has been discarded by Scotland within weeks of their most-capped forward reaching the 10th anniversary of his international debut.

But having written off Weir, the Scottish management could surely have offered their beanpole warrior a quiet word of explanation, instead of leaving him to discover the news for himself last night.

The fact that Scotland expanded their squad for the matches against the United States, Australia and Samoa at Murrayfield in November to 46 players and still found no room for him made his exclusion all the more pointed.

'They must have better people for the job, I should imagine,' said Weir last night in response to the news. 'I didn't know the squad was coming out and I haven't spoken to anyone about it. If ever there is an incentive to get my place back, this is it.

'I didn't go on tour to New Zealand at the end of last season. I wanted to take a break and get away from the game. I'm quite pleased I took that decision because I feel all the better for it.'

The theory that Weir is being made to pay for resting last summer does not bear even the most cursory examination. Two other English-based Scots who did the same - Wasps wing Kenny Logan and Sale scrum half Bryan Redpath - have been welcomed back to the fold, while the 30-year-old lock is left four caps short of matching Scott Hastings' 65- cap national record.

Their captain may be missing but Newcastle still provide Scotland with three of the pack, No.8 Ross Beattie, lock Stuart Grimes and prop George Graham, still going strong at 34.

Gloucester restored Kingsley Jones to the Kingsholm captaincy yesterday after his New Zealand namesake, Ian, had given it up as a bad job following Sunday's 43-23 beating at Wasps.