The towering youngster, a former De La Salle pupil, played for a mixed-age group side, U18/U20, against a touring Japan side, lasting 80 minutes in a 51-20 victory at Meggetland, Boroughmuir, last week.
Initial reaction from the Scotland coaches is that they were impressed with the lock-forward’s performance.
Ed Howgate: “I think I played played quite well and the initial feedback has been good, though we’ll all get more detailed analysis once the stats have been processed”
The 19-year-old left the Island at the turn of the year, where he was starring in the second row with Jersey Athletic, for Scottish Premiership club Stirling County – a development that was instigated by the Exiles section of the Scottish RFU youth programme, who wanted Howgate tested at a higher-level, with a view to competing for a Scotland U20 berth.
That move,which involved the Jersey-born youngster with Scottish heritage being set up with work and accommodation, has quickly-borne fruit, despite Stirling struggling in the league.
Howgate enjoyed the occasion immensely – although he admitted to having go on a crash course to learn the Dark Blues’ ‘Flower of Scotland’ for the traditional pre-match anthems.
‘I think I played quite well and the initial feedback has been good,though we’ll all get more detailed analysis once the stats have been processed. I made the tackles, carried and did a job in the line out, so I was happy. Japan were fast and skilful,but we were more physical and hit them early with a couple of tries. They came back in the second, but we were scoring consistently,’ said Howgate.
‘The team were a mix of U20s and U18s and I think they wanted to have a look to see if I’m ready for the Junior World Cup later this year.’
He would have donned the famous dark blue shirt in an earlier fixture against Japan, but was released to play for Stirling against Edinburgh Accies in a league match. And he was keen to help as they are involved in a relegation battle: ‘I knew I would be involved in the next Scotland game so I was keen to help Stirling out. I think my game has come on a lot since joining them.’
Howgate will await for the U20 training camps to be announced, but in the meantime has a huge game with Stirling at Glasgow Hawks on 4 April. Win and Stirling are safe; lose and they go into a play-off to stay in the Premiership.
