Bailey Rice of Rangers in action during the pre-season friendly match between Rangers and SV Hamburg at Ibrox Stadium on July 22, 2023 in Glasgow, …Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images
Scotland rugby debutant sees another excuse Philippe Clement can’t use to promote Rangers kid
If Rangers are to cut their cloth accordingly then they will need to start producing their own players.
The academy should form the backbone of any Ibrox revolution, even if that means signing talented teens before introducing them into the first-team squad.
Philippe Clement has worked under similar conditions in the past, however, the Rangers manager could do with learning a lesson from the man in charge of the national team – of rugby.
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Bailey Rice of Rangers gestures during the pre-season friendly match between Birmingham City and Rangers at St Andrew’s at Knighthead Park on July …
Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images
How Philippe Clement can follow Gregor Townsend’s example
Gregor Townsend sprang a surprise when he named his Scotland squad for the autumn series of rugby internationals at Murrayfield with the inclusion of Freddy Douglas.
At 19-years old, the back row forward has impressed Townsend and yet he doesn’t have a single senior professional appearance to his name.
The Scotland boss explained before the towering teen made his debut against Portugal that mentality has been key factor in Douglas’ promotion:
“We want him to just deliver and play the game that we’ve seen him play at under-20s for Scotland but also Edinburgh A and how he’s trained with us,” said Townsend to The Scotsman.
“He has got the mindset we believe that is ready for Test rugby.
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“He will go forward and attack in defence and he’s got a super strength which is his ability to win turnovers and win that ball back for his team.”
The equivalent in football would be Steve Clarke giving on-form Rangers kid Findlay Curtis his international debut for Scotland before Clement picked him.
What does Clement think about Bailey Rice?
Townsend has shown the sort of bravery that all good coaches and managers have. Some players just have “it”.
Calvin Bassey and Nathan Patterson broke into senior football at roughly the same time and were international footballers within a year, and neither were tipped for such heights in their respective academies.
One player who has been is Bailey Rice, a player who Clement spoke about shortly after arriving at the club:
“I don’t like to speak too much about individuals but OK I will speak about Bailey (Rice) because he knows,” said Clement.
“He’s for me a really talented player and I think he has a great future in this club but there are also some points we need to work on which are different Academy football and the first team, for sure without ball.
“So that’s a really important step to make and he’s going to make that step. If he makes that step then he’s going to be pushing for positions in the first team.”
Why can’t Rice, like Douglas for the Scotland rugby team, hone his trade on the big stage instead of at the training ground?
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