Townsend names 17 Warriors in Scotland squad

Scotland Head Coach Gregor Townsend has selected 17 Glasgow Warriors for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series, as the men in blue prepare to open their campaign against Tonga at BT Murrayfield next weekend.

A full house for Australia ?

?? ?? Our @autumnnations matches against the @wallabies and @Springboks are both sell-outs.

?? ?? Tickets are still available for Tonga & Japan.

Secure your tickets now ⤵️
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) October 20, 2021

The Glasgow contingent includes five players hoping to make their debuts in Scotland colours, including Rufus McLean; the winger currently leads the United Rugby Championship in clean breaks with six after four rounds.

Sione Tuipulotu is also included amongst Townsend’s midfield options, having crossed for his first try for the Warriors in last weekend’s victory over Zebre Parma as the latest part of an eye-catching start to his Glasgow career.

Half-back duo Jamie Dobie and Ross Thompson retain their spaces after linking up with the squad for a two-day training camp earlier this week, the former having also been a part of the Scotland squad for the conclusion of the Guinness Six Nations earlier in 2021.

The uncapped quintet is completed by Rory Darge, whose early season form sees him in contention for an international bow in the number seven shirt.

Elsewhere, Danny Wilson’s squad provides six of the front-row options available to Townsend and his coaching team, with Fraser Brown and George Turner both included at hooker.

Jamie Bhatti and Oli Kebble are selected after both men featured in the away win in Parma, whilst Murray McCallum will look to add to his tally of Scotland caps from 2018 after joining Zander Fagerson amongst the front-row ranks.

Rob Harley’s experience sees the club’s record holder for appearances included in the engine room, with Matt Fagerson looking to build on his Guinness Six Nations form for Scotland at number eight.

The Warriors provide all three of the scrum-halves in the 42-man playing group, as Ali Price and George Horne join Dobie in the stable of number nines chosen by Townsend.

Sam Johnson returns to the fold after returning to action at the start of the season in impressive style, whilst Kyle Steyn completes the Glasgow contingent as he looks to add to his single Scotland cap to date from the win over France at BT Murrayfield in March 2020.

Scotland open their campaign against Tonga at BT Murrayfield next weekend, before facing Australia, South Africa and Japan on successive weekends at the home of Scottish rugby.

Autumn Nations Series Squad

Forwards:

Ewan Ashman – Sale Sharks – uncapped
Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby – uncapped
Jamie Bhatti – Glasgow Warriors – 18 caps
Fraser Brown – Glasgow Warriors – 54 caps
Luke Crosbie – Edinburgh Rugby – uncapped
Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors – uncapped
Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors – 13 caps
Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors – 38 caps
Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby – 45 caps
Nick Haining – Edinburgh Rugby – 8 caps
Rob Harley – Glasgow Warriors – 22 caps
Jamie Hodgson – Edinburgh Rugby – uncapped
Oli Kebble – Glasgow Warriors – 8 caps
Murray McCallum – Glasgow Warriors – 3 caps
Stuart McInally – Edinburgh Rugby – 40 caps
Dylan Richardson – Cell C Sharks – uncapped
Jamie Ritchie – Edinburgh Rugby – 27 caps
Sam Skinner – Exeter Chiefs – 12 caps
Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby – uncapped
Rory Sutherland – Worcester Warriors – 16 caps
Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby – uncapped
George Turner – Glasgow Warriors – 17 caps
Hamish Watson – Edinburgh Rugby – 41 caps

Backs:

Mark Bennett – Edinburgh Rugby – 22 caps
Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby – 19 caps
Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors – uncapped
Chris Harris – Gloucester Rugby – 28 caps
Adam Hastings – Gloucester Rugby – 23 caps
Stuart Hogg – Exeter Chiefs – 85 caps
George Horne – Glasgow Warriors – 14 caps
Damien Hoyland – Edinburgh Rugby – 4 caps
Sam Johnson – Glasgow Warriors – 18 caps
Huw Jones – Harlequins – 31 caps
Blair Kinghorn – Edinburgh Rugby – 25 caps
Duhan van de Merwe – Worcester Warriors – 10 caps
Rufus McLean – Glasgow Warriors – uncapped
Ali Price – Glasgow Warriors – 42 caps
Finn Russell – Racing 92 – 55 caps
Matt Scott – Leicester Tigers – 39 caps
Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors – 1 cap
Ross Thompson – Glasgow Warriors – uncapped
Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors – uncapped