News

Townsend mixes youth and experience for Scotland’s autumn

GregorTownsendScot17800
Gregor Townsend has challenged his players to lift their levels for international rugby after naming ten uncapped players in a 36-man Scotland squad for their autumn internationals.

Gregor Townsend has challenged his players to lift their levels for international rugby after naming ten uncapped players in a 36-man Scotland squad for their autumn internationals.

Townsend’s first autumn in charge of his country sees them take on Samoa, world champions New Zealand and Australia in three successive weekends at BT Murrayfield.

Four of the new faces in the squad come in the back line with Edinburgh duo Phil Burleigh and Nathan Fowles selected in the centres and at scrum half respectively.

Sale Sharks winger Byron McGuigan and Newcastle Falcons centre Chris Harris are also rewarded for their fine starts to the Premiership season.

While the six new forwards are Glasgow Warriors trio Jamie Bhatti, George Turner and Scott Cummings, Edinburgh pair Jamie Ritchie and Darryl Marfo and Leicester Tigers flanker – and former Wales Under-20 – Luke Hamilton.

Elsewhere, injures deprive Townsend of some important figures like British & Irish Lions Greig Laidlaw, Richie Gray and Sean Maitland as well as hooker Fraser Brown who all featured in the 2017 Six Nations.

But fellow Lions Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour return after missing the summer tour that saw Scotland claim an impressive win over Australia in Sydney.

Scotland Head Coach Townsend, said: “The players selected have worked exceptionally hard at their clubs to earn inclusion in the national squad and we’re looking forward to working with them throughout the autumn series.

“They will need to intensify their efforts further still to earn the opportunity and honour of play in front of capacity crowds in what are three exciting fixtures.

“We’re facing two of the world’s top three sides after a significant challenge from Samoa in our opening game. It will be an excellent challenge for our players.”   Forwards Simon Berghan (Edinburgh Rugby) Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) John Barclay (Scarlets) Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) Cornell Du Preez (Edinburgh Rugby) Zander Ferguson (Glasgow Warriors) Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors) Luke Hamilton (Leicester Tigers) Darryl Marfo (Edinburgh Rugby) Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby) George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby)   Backs Phil Burleigh (Edinburgh Rugby) Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby) Nathan Fowles (Edinburgh Rugby) Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons) Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors) Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) Lee Jones (Glasgow Warriors) Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) Byron McGuigan (Sale Sharks) Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors)