Some of the Highlands’ brightest young shinty players are preparing to pull on the Scotland jersey after being selected for this year’s Under 17 tour of Ireland.

The annual trip, which has been running for more than two decades, brings together Scotland’s leading young players for a series of shinty and hurling challenge matches against Irish opposition while also celebrating the shared sporting heritage of both countries.

This year’s squad features players from clubs across the Highlands, including Caberfeidh, Beauly, Glenurquhart, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Kinlochshiel and Skye, underlining the strength of youth shinty across the region.

Matthew Sloss of Newtonmore has been named captain after earning his fourth consecutive call up to the national squad.

Last year he was named Player of the Match against Dublin before going on to receive the Mowi Under 17 Player of the Year award and playing a key role in Newtonmore’s Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup success.

National Development Manager Ronald Ross said:

“We are looking forward to once again returning to Ireland for two highly competitive games, just as we saw last year.

“The squad has an element of consistency this year, with over half the squad getting their first taste of shinty hurling in 2025.

“Congratulations to all of the players selected on achieving the honour of representing their country.”

This year’s tour is once again being sponsored by Highland based mechanical and renewable energy company RICruden, which is supporting the Scotland Under 17 side for the fourth successive year.

Greg Matheson, Mechanical Contracts Manager at RICruden, said:

“In what will be our fourth year, supporting the Scotland U17s on their Tour of Ireland has become a proud tradition for us, and we’re delighted to be behind the squad once again.

“Backing the next generation is at the heart of what we do at RI Cruden, and it’s that same belief that drives our apprenticeship programme and seeing our logo on the strips as these young players makes us genuinely proud.

“The whole team at RI Cruden will be cheering them on from home.”

The squad will travel to Ireland on Sunday 26 July before taking part in training sessions and cultural activities ahead of fixtures against Dublin at Parnell Park on Monday 27 July and Meath on Tuesday 28 July.

For many of the players, the tour represents an opportunity to test themselves against elite young hurlers while representing Scotland on the international stage and continuing one of shinty’s longest standing traditions.