14 Warriors to represent Scotland at 2023 Rugby World Cup

SAINT ETIENNE, FRANCE - AUGUST 12: Scotland's Kyle Steyn scores the first try of the match during The Famous Grouse Nations Series match between France and Scotland at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, on August 12, 2023, in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

For the fourth Rugby World Cup in succession, Glasgow Warriors provide the largest contingent of players to the Scotland setup, with seven of the Glasgow players selected set to experience rugby’s biggest stage for the first time.

Amongst those heading to a first Rugby World Cup is club captain Kyle Steyn, fresh from a two try, Player of the Match-winning performance in Saturday’s clash with France.

Fellow try-scorer Rory Darge also heads to his first senior Rugby World Cup, the flanker having captained Scotland for the first time earlier this summer in victory over Italy at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

Darge is one of eight Glasgow forwards selected by Townsend and his coaching staff, with loose-head prop Jamie Bhatti named amongst the front-row options after a season that saw him shortlisted for the McCrea Financial Services Player of the Season award.

George Turner joins Bhatti amongst the front-row cohort, the hooker set for his second tournament after being named in the squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Zander Fagerson travels to his second Rugby World Cup, the 2021 British and Irish Lion available for the first match of the pool stage against South Africa on Sunday 10 September.

Richie Gray is the most-experienced Warrior travelling to France, with the 75-times-capped second-rower set for his third Rugby World Cup after appearing in both 2011 and 2015.

Scott Cummings joins his fellow second-rower on the plane to France, having crossed a century of appearances for his hometown club during the 2022/23 campaign.

Matt Fagerson is selected as part of a formidable loose forward contingent, the back-rower having featured in 16 of Scotland’s last 17 Test matches.

Jack Dempsey rounds out the Glasgow forwards, having carried more ball than any other Scotland player in Saturday’s clash in St Etienne.

Behind the scrum, George Horne travels to a second Rugby World Cup, the scrum-half one of only five Scotland players to score a hat-trick at the tournament with a treble against Russia in 2019.

Ali Price joins Horne amongst the options at scrum-half, travelling to his second tournament in the dark blue jersey.

Sione Tuipulotu is one of four centres named by Townsend to travel to France, having become a firm fan favourite during his first two seasons at Scotstoun.

Huw Jones joins Tuipulotu in the midfield, the centre having enjoyed a scintillating international campaign including four tries in the Guinness Six Nations.

Ollie Smith completes the Glasgow contingent boarding the plane, the full-back’s try-saving tackle on Gabin Viliere one of the highlights of Saturday’s clash in St Etienne.

Scotland open their Pool B campaign on Sunday 10 September when they take on South Africa, with Ireland, Tonga and Romania completing Pool B.