Scotland name squad for rugby World Cup

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson on Monday confirmed Alastair Kellock as captain of his 30-man squad for the World Cup in New Zealand. Glasgow Warriors second row Kellock led his country during this year's Six Nations tournament and he retains the armband for the Scots' World Cup campaign, which kicks off on September 10 against Romania in Invercargill, with further group games against Georgia, Argentina and England. Kellock, who missed out on selection for the 2007 tournament, said: "Today is not a time for looking back. It's about reflecting on the huge honour of being selected for the squad, which is magnified by being asked to captain the squad. "I intend to do my utmost to reward the coaches' faith in me and make the country proud of what we achieve in New Zealand." Kellock's club colleague Johnnie Beattie, who was among the most impressive performers in the 2010 Six Nations before suffering a shoulder problem, has been omitted from Robinson's squad. Number eight Beattie was the victim of intense competition in the back row, with David Denton and Robert Harley also missing out. Harley did not play a minute of either of Scotland's World Cup warm-up matches, while prop Ryan Grant and centre Ben Cairns, who were both absent for the Ireland and Italy fixtures, also missed out, as does Bath full-back Jack Cuthbert. Edinburgh half-back Greig Laidlaw didn't make the cut after scrum-halves Chris Cusiter and Mike Blair proved their fitness. Chris Paterson, Scotland's most-capped player and record scorer, has been included and the Edinburgh full-back is set to become the first Scot to appear in four World Cups, having made his debut in the 1999 tournament. "What I've seen from the squad is a tremendous team spirit, a great courage for the way they've worked together and I'm delighted to be head coach of this squad," Robinson. "I know they're going to go and do Scotland proud. I have no doubt about that. "I'd like to thank every single one of them for the work they've done so far. It's now about getting in the starting XV." Robinson, who named a 40-man preliminary squad in May, saw his plans affected by injuries to hooker Fergus Thomson, full-back Hugo Southwell and wing Nikki Walker. Walker was the latest to fall when he suffered a medial knee ligament injury in Saturday's 23-12 win over Italy at Murrayfield. The Scotland squad for the World Cup (September 9-October 23) announced on Monday: Forwards (17): John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Sale Sharks), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Nathan Hines (Clermont Auvergne), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock (captain, Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks). Backs (13): Joe Ansbro (London Irish), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Max Evans (Castres), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Lamont (Toulon), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh).