Ross Ford, the 27-year-old Edinburgh Rugby hooker, was today appointed Scotland captain for the opening match of the RBS 6 Nations Championship – against England at Murrayfield on Saturday week. Ford, the 53-times-capped product of Kelso High School and a British and Irish Lion in South Africa in 2009, was hailed by head coach Andy Robinson as a “man who will step up and lead from the front.†Robinson also confirmed today that his original intention had been to bestow the captaincy on Ford’s fellow Borderer, Kelly Brown. However, the back-row forward was injured in Heineken Cup action for his club Saracens at the weekend.
Robinson said: “This is a special day for Ross, who has been a key figure in our leadership group and our most consistent performer for some time. I firmly believe he is the man who will step up and lead from the front. That said, I’m really disappointed for Kelly Brown. I had asked him to be the captain late last week but unfortunately injury will deprive him of that honour and the chance to lead out his country for his fiftieth cap. I wish him a speedy recovery.â€