Head coach Andy Robinson has today named the 30-man Scotland squad for the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.

The squad will be captained by Alastair Kellock, the 30-year-old Glasgow Warriors second-row forward.

Kellock, who won his 34th cap in the weekend EMC Test victory over Italy, has led Scotland eight times from the outset of a match and has also assumed the leader’s role during matches, most notably in victory over the Wallabies at Murrayfield in 2009.

He is among 12 players selected as part of a Scotland Rugby World Cup squad for the first time.  One of that dozen, his Glasgow Warriors team-mate, Richie Gray, is the youngest in the Scots’ party.  The 6ft 8ins lock celebrates his 22nd birthday on Wednesday.

That said, however, it is an experienced squad.  All 30 players are capped internationalists with the list headed by Scotland’s most capped player, centurion Chris Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby), who will be playing in an unprecedented fourth Rugby World Cup for a Scot.

The squad is drawn from 13 clubs with 15 home-based players (7 from Edinburgh, 8 from Glasgow Warriors) and 15 Exiles.  In all they have played 1038 internationals scoring a grand total of 82 tries.

Head coach Andy Robinson OBE said: “I want to pay tribute to the dedicated and professional approach of all those in our provisional squad.

“Eight players have been unfortunate to miss out from that squad but that is because of the talent we have been able to assemble in our final 30.

“As a squad we have our values and uppermost among them is to inspire the nation by the way in which we conduct ourselves and through winning performances on the international rugby field.”

Kellock, who was praised for his dignity when he missed out on selection for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, added: “Today is not a time for looking back.  It’s about reflecting on the huge honour of being selected for the squad in the first instance, 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 by what we achieve in New Zealand.”

Scotland squad for the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand:

Backs –

Joe Ansbro (London Irish) 7 caps, 1 try, 5 points – RWC newcomer

Mike Blair (Edinburgh) 72 caps, 6 tries, 30 points – RWC 2003 and 2007

Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 53 caps, 3 tries, 15 points – RWC 2007

Simon Danielli (Ulster) 30 caps, 6 tries, 30 points – RWC 2003

Nick De Luca (Edinburgh) 26 caps, 1 try, 5 points – RWC newcomer

Max Evans (Castres) 20 caps, 3 tries, 5 points – RWC newcomer

Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps, 1 penalty, 2 conversions, 1 drop-goal, 10 points – RWC newcomer

Rory Lamont (Toulon) 25 caps, 6 tries, 30 points – RWC 2007

Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 56 caps, 8 tries, 40 points – RWC 2007

Rory Lawson (Gloucester) 28 caps – RWC 2007

Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 30 caps, 3 tries, 15 points – RWC newcomer

Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues) 62 caps, 4 tries, 15 conversions, 48 penalties, 14 drop-goals, 236 points – RWC 2007

Chris Paterson (Edinburgh) 105 caps, 22 tries, 163 penalties, 89 conversions, 3 drop-goals, 786 points – RWC 1999, 2003 and 2007

Forwards –

John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 29 caps, 2 tries, 10 points – RWC 2007

Kelly Brown (Saracens) 46 caps, 4 tries, 20 points – RWC 2007

Geoff Cross (Edinburgh) 6 caps – RWC newcomer

Alasdair Dickinson (Sale Sharks) 21 caps, 1 try, 5 points – RWC 2007

Ross Ford (Edinburgh) 49 caps, 2 tries, 10 points – RWC 2007

Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 12 caps – RWC newcomer

Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors) 36 caps, 1 try, 5 points – RWC 2003

Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 32 caps, 1 try, 5 points – RWC 2007

Nathan Hines (Clermont Ferrand) 73 caps, 2 tries, 10 points – RWC 2003 and 2007

Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh) 56 caps – RWC 2003 and 2007

Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) CAPTAIN 34 caps, 1 try, 5 points – RWC newcomer

Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 28 caps, 2 tries, 10 points – RWC 2007

Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 15 caps – RWC newcomer

Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons) 39 caps, 2 tries, 10 points – RWC 2007

Ross Rennie (Edinburgh) 8 caps – RWC newcomer

Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester) 20 caps, 1 try, 5 points – RWC newcomer

Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks) 12 caps – RWC newcomer

Management

Head coach – Andy Robinson OBE

Attack coach – Gregor Townsend MBE

Defence coach – Graham Steadman

Specialist coaches – Duncan Hodge (kicking) and Massimo Cuttitta (scrummage)

Analyst – Gavin Scott

Strength and conditioning – Neill Potts (lead) and George Petrakos

Nutritionist – Richard Chessor

Director of Performance Rugby – Graham Lowe

Medical – James Robson (Doctor); Paul McGinley and Stephen Mutch (physiotherapists); and Gillian Main (masseuse)

Psychologist – Richard Cox

Media – Graham Law (Scotland team media manager) and Dominic McKay (Director of Communications and Public Affairs)

Team Manager – Dougie Potter

National Team Co-ordinator – Kirsty Mackay

Kit manager – John Pennycuick

Lawyer – Bruce Caldow

SCOTLAND RUGBY WORLD CUP MATCH SCHEDULE

SCOTLAND POOL B MATCHES

Saturday 10 September – Scotland v Romania, Invercargill (kick-off 1pm, 2am BST) – on STV

Wednesday 14 September – Scotland v Georgia, Invercargill (kick-off 7.30pm, 8.30am BST) – on STV

Sunday 25 September – Scotland v Argentina, Wellington (kick-off 8.30pm, 8.30am BST) – on STV

Saturday 1 October – Scotland v England, Auckland (kick-off 8.30pm, 8.30am BST) – on STV

QUARTER FINALS

Saturday 8 October – Winner C v Runner-up D, Wellington (kick-off 6pm, 6am BST)

Saturday 8 October – Winner B v Runner-up A, Auckland (kick-off 8.30pm, 8.30am BST)

Sunday 9 October – Winner D v Runner-up C, Wellington (kick-off 6pm, 6am BST)

Sunday 9 October – Winner A v Runner-up B, Auckland (kick-off 8.30pm, 8.30am BST)

SEMI FINALS

Saturday 15 October – Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2, Auckland (kick-off 9pm, 9am BST)

Sunday 16 October – Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4, Auckland (kick-off 9pm, 9am BST)

3RD PLACE PLAY-OFF

Friday 21 October – Loser SF 1 v Loser SF 2, Auckland (kick-off 8.30pm, 8.30am BST)

FINAL

Sunday 23 October – Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2, Auckland (kick-off 9pm, 9am BST)