And while two of Scotland's most cherished sons Jim and Finlay Calder never turned out in the famous shirt of London Scottish, Jim's son Lewis is set to do so, the former Scotland U21 captain and Scotland Sevens flanker having joined from Exeter.
Behind the scrum, the challenge for fly-half and backs coach James Brown will be to hold off the precocious talent of Craig Ratford, who at only 19 guided Barking to the National 2 South title last season.
The group of Scottish arrivals also includes hooker Craig McGrath (Scotland U21 from Newbury) and second rower Josh Brown (Scotland U20, from Bristol) and tight head prop Frazer Gibson. Gibson returns to the club where he was a junior for 12 years and was capped for Scotland under 18s.
Elsewhere the club has brought in the 29-year-old loose-head prop Alex Clarke from Bristol, who played for England Saxons in 2008 plus current England U20 second row Peter Elder from Wasps Academy and hooker Adam Kwasnicki (also from Barking).
The club also welcomes centres Dan Cootes from the Army and Oli Holmes (21), capped for England at under 16s from London Wasps Academy and wingers Tim Holgate from Tring and 19 year-old Stephen Hihetah from London Wasps Academy.
Meanwhile to reinforce the emphasis on youth, Callum Stidston-Nott (current Scotland U20) steps up from the London Scottish Academy to join other youngsters already in the squad, including Willie Lipp (23), Frankie Neale (23) Anthony Kent (19) Rory Damant (23), Ben Lonergan (23), Callum Grant (21), Dan Palmer (23), David Howells (22), Tom Standfield (23), Charlie Broughton (24) and Chris Dunlop (24).
Simon Amor - Head Coach said "This coming season will no doubt be tough so I am delighted we have been able to strengthen the squad with some key experience and exciting talent. A number of the younger players will be effectively full-time to enable them to focus on developing their rugby skills and careers. We still have a couple of signings to confirm, but are very near to completing our squad for next season"
Tony Copsey - CEO Said "In a season that will mark a clear direction for the club both on and off the field it is vital we have a squad that is up for the challenge. As always at this time of year we say good-bye to former servants of the club and I would like to thank them all for their efforts and contribution to London Scottish. In particular Paul Volley and Iain Fullarton who are retiring and our thoughts will go with Stuart Silvester, whose unit is headed for Afghanistan"
Other players leaving the club are Matt Heeks, Richard Culley and Andrew (Smudger) Smith.
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COMING FROM: |
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Full Backs: |
Frankie Neale |
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Stuart Peel |
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Wings: |
David Howells |
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Charlie Broughton |
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Tim Holgate |
TRING |
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Stephen Hihetah |
WASPS ACADEMY |
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Roman Piotrowski |
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Centres: |
Gary Trueman |
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Ian McInroy |
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Rory Damant |
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Dan Cootes |
ARMY |
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Oli Holmes |
WASPS ACADEMY |
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Chris Dunlop |
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Fly Half: |
Craig Ratford |
BARKING |
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James Brown |
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Lee Rust |
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Scrum Half: |
Simon Amor |
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Owain Walbyoff |
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Callum Grant |
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Loose Heads: |
Alex Clarke |
BRISTOL |
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Anthony Kent |
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Matt Johnson |
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Hookers: |
Tom Standfield |
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Adam Kwasnicki |
BARKING |
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Craig McGrath |
NEWBURY |
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Tight Heads: |
Andrew Fahey |
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James Graham |
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Frazer Gibson |
STAINES |
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Chris Johnston |
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2nd Row: |
Alex Karonias |
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Dan Palmer |
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Josh Brown |
BRISTOL |
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Peter Elder |
WASPS ACADEMY |
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Grant Livingston |
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Back Row: |
Darrell Ball |
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Willie Lipp |
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Callum Stidston-Knott |
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Oli Brown |
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Tom Yellowlees |
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Lewis Calder |
EXETER |
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Ben Lonergan |
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Mark Soden |
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Sam Harding |
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