Kelly is latest London Scottish loan star

Glasgow Hawks and BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy centre Patrick Kelly has joined London Scottish on a short-term loan.

Kelly – who made a try-scoring debut in the club’s 31-30 away win over Rotherham Titans – is the sixth player to join the English Championship side this season as part of a performance partnership with the governing body and the Richmond club.

He will be reacquainted with fellow age-grade internationalists Cameron Fenton, Ally Miller, Hugh Fraser, Tom Galbraith and Ben Robbins.

Also at the club are Scottish Rugby’s Head of International Age-Grade Rugby, Sean Lineen, who has taken up the role of Director of Rugby on a part-time basis, and former Scotland U20 coach, John Dalziel, who arrived in August.

Kelly said: "I’m very excited to have the opportunity to play for Scottish.

"It's a great club with a talented group of boys and I'm looking forward to being tested in a professional team environment.

This is the perfect place for me to develop and to compete in a professional league."

- - Patrick Kelly

A product of Highland, Kelly has made nine appearances for Scotland U20, starting all five appearances in the 2015 6 Nations – playing a key role in the country’s three victories against Wales, Italy and Ireland – before completing his tenure at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Italy that year.

Kelly joined Hawks from French National B team Le Parc, whom he joined after helping Merchiston Castle School reach the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Cup final in 2012.

The Performance Partnership

Earlier this year Scottish Rugby and London Scottish announced a new partnership to support the development of a joint performance programme.

The agreement, which is resource focused, will see regular coaching, playing and high performance support provided by Scottish Rugby to the club.

It will provide a further professional rugby environment for identified players and coaches, as well as benefitting their personal and professional development.

Selected pro-team, BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy and Scottish age-grade players will be based at the Richmond Athletic Ground and available to London Scottish for English Championship and B&I Cup fixtures.

Scottish Rugby’s Head of International Age-Grade Rugby, Sean Lineen, has taken up the role of Director of Rugby on a part-time basis to lead the on-field direction of the performance programme and support current London Scottish Head Coach, Peter Richards.