18 Warriors named in Scotland training squad

Glasgow Warriors will provide half of a 36-man Scotland training squad next week, after Gregor Townsend selected 18 Warriors for a two-day camp at Oriam ahead of the Autumn Nations Series getting underway.

Six of the Glasgow contingent will be hoping to further their claims for an international debut, with Scotland kicking off their autumn campaign against Tonga at BT Murrayfield on Saturday 30 October.

Rory Darge is included amongst the training squad after collecting two Player of the Match awards from his two United Rugby Championship outings to date, whilst Ross Thompson’s form sees the fly-half retain his place from the squad originally named for the summer tour.

Similarly, back-three stars Rufus McLean and Cole Forbes – the latter having crossed for a brace against the Cell C Sharks in round two of the URC – are included, as is centre Sione Tuipulotu after an impressive start to life at Scotstoun.

Jamie Dobie completes the uncapped cohort, joining George Horne and Ali Price amongst the scrum-halves selected by Townsend.

Price’s fellow 2021 British and Irish Lion, Zander Fagerson, is also selected in the 36-strong group, joining younger brother Matt in the pack after the latter’s return from injury on Saturday afternoon.

Jamie Bhatti’s memorable week continues as he follows up his try-scoring outing on his 50^th appearance for Glasgow, whilst fellow loose-head Oli Kebble is selected as he nears a return to full fitness following surgery in the off-season.

Murray McCallum’s early-season form earns the prop a Scotland recall as he looks to add to his three caps from 2018, with hooker duo Fraser Brown and George Turner joining him amongst the front-row options.

Rob Harley’s experience and ability to cover both the second-row and the back-row sees the former West of Scotland man included by Townsend and his coaching team, with the in-form pair of Sam Johnson and Kyle Steyn completing the Glasgow contingent.

Don’t miss Scotland’s long-awaited return to @BTMurrayfield ????????

Tickets for our game against Tonga are still available, with kids for £1 (U12s with paying adult).

?️ https://t.co/Jz7voKUhHI pic.twitter.com/KaR0d2HTZT
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) October 11, 2021

The training squad will convene on Sunday 17 October and train on Monday 18 October at Oriam High Performance centre outside Edinburgh.

Autumn Nations Series Training Squad

Forwards

Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors – 13 caps
Nick Haining – Edinburgh Rugby – 8 caps
Hamish Watson – Edinburgh Rugby – 41 caps
Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors – uncapped
Dylan Richardson – Cell C Sharks – uncapped
Jamie Ritchie – Edinburgh Rugby – 27 caps
Luke Crosbie – Edinburgh Rugby – uncapped
Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby – 45 caps
Jamie Hodgson – Edinburgh Rugby – uncapped
Rob Harley – Glasgow Warriors – 22 caps
Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby – uncapped
Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors – 38 caps
Oli Kebble – Glasgow Warriors – 8 caps
Murray McCallum – Glasgow Warriors – 3 caps
George Turner – Glasgow Warriors – 17 caps
Fraser Brown – Glasgow Warriors – 54 caps
Stuart McInally – Edinburgh Rugby – 40 caps
Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby – uncapped
Jamie Bhatti – Glasgow Warriors – 18 caps

Backs

Rufus McLean – Glasgow Warriors – uncapped
Damien Hoyland – Edinburgh Rugby – 4 caps
Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby– 19 caps
Cole Forbes – Glasgow Warriors – uncapped
Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors – uncapped
Mark Bennett – Edinburgh Rugby – 22 caps
Matt Currie – Edinburgh Rugby – uncapped
Sam Johnson – Glasgow Warriors – 18 caps
James Lang – Edinburgh Rugby – 6 caps
Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors – 1 cap
Jack Blain – Edinburgh Rugby – uncapped
Blair Kinghorn – Edinburgh Rugby – 25 caps
Ross Thompson – Glasgow Warriors – uncapped
Charlie Savala – Edinburgh Rugby – uncapped
Ali Price – Glasgow Warriors – 42 caps
George Horne – Glasgow Warriors – 14 caps
Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors – uncapped