15 Warriors selected in Scotland squad for Six Nations

• 17 Jan 2023

Scotland Head Coach Gregor Townsend has named 15 Glasgow Warriors in his playing group for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations, as the men in blue begin their preparations for the 2023 campaign.

The Warriors contribute more players to the squad than any other club, as Franco Smith’s men look to extend their winning run to eight matches in all competitions when Bath visit Scotstoun this Friday night.

Stafford McDowall is the only uncapped Warrior amongst the Glasgow contingent, fresh from captaining the club for the first time in Saturday’s win over Perpignan.

Huw Jones joins McDowall in the midfield options, returning to the Scotland setup for the first time since being forced to withdraw from the 2022 summer tour due to injury.

Sione Tuipulotu makes it a hat-trick of Warriors amongst the centres, having put pen to paper on a contract extension with Smith’s men earlier this week.

Elsewhere in the back-line, Ollie Smith could make his Six Nations debut if he makes it onto the field during the tournament, whilst club captain Kyle Steyn is also included amongst the back-three option after an impressive start to the campaign.

Ali Price and George Horne complete the cohort of backs, the scrum-half duo having dove-tailed to good effect in Glasgow colours this season.

Up front, Richie Gray is the most-capped Warrior selected by Townsend, the second-rower looking to add to his tally of 69 caps in the dark blue jersey.

Simon Berghan could win his first cap since the 2021 Guinness Six Nations, the tight-head rewarded for a run of solid performances for Smith’s men in recent weeks.

Jack Dempsey is another who could make his Guinness Six Nations debut during this year’s tournament, having won his first four caps for Scotland during the 2022 Autumn Nations Series.

A brace of Glasgow hookers are included in Townsend’s playing group, with both Fraser Brown and George Turner selected in the front-row.

Jamie Bhatti joins Berghan amongst the options at prop, whilst Zander Fagerson is included despite still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained against Zebre Parma at the start of December.

Matt Fagerson rounds out the Glasgow contingent, having played in each of Scotland’s matches during the Autumn Nations Series.

Scotland open their 2022 Guinness Six Nations campaign away to England, as they look to defend the Calcutta Cup for a third successive campaign.

Scotland squad for the 2023 Guinness Six Nations

Forwards

Ewan Ashman (Sale Sharks) 6 caps
Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby) 3 caps
Simon Berghan (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 25 caps
Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) 57 caps
Dave Cherry (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
Andy Christie (Saracens) 4 caps
Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps
Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps
Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 28 caps
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 54 caps
Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) 59 caps
Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) 72 caps
Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 69 caps
Cameron Henderson (Leicester Tigers) uncapped
WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 50 caps
Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) – CAPTAIN – 36 caps
Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 16 caps
Javan Sebastian (Scarlets) 3 caps
Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby) 23 caps
Rory Sutherland (Ulster Rugby) 22 caps
George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) 29 caps
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) 54 caps

Backs

Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby) 39 caps
Ben Healy (Munster Rugby) uncapped
Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) 96 caps
George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 18 caps
Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 38 caps
Sean Maitland (Saracens) 53 caps
Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby) uncapped
Stafford McDowell (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped
Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) 58 caps
Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby) 4 caps
Finn Russell (Racing 92) 65 caps
Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) 2 caps
Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps
Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 11 caps
Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 23 caps
Ben White (London Irish) 9 caps