John Barclay to lead Scotland in their summer tour
John Barclay will lead Scotland in their summer tour
©PA
Incoming Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has confirmed Scarlets flanker John Barclay as the captain for the summer tour in the absence of regular skipper Greig Laidlaw.
Laidlaw was called up to the British and Irish Lions squad by Warren Gatland as a replacement for England international Ben Youngs, who pulled out due to family illness.
Barclay has the experience of captaining Scotland in the final three rounds of the recently concluded Six Nations tournament when Laidlaw was injured and the 30-year-old led the Dark Blues to their first victory against Wales in 10 years.
The 34-man squad also has three uncapped players in Glasgow Warriors duo Nick Grigg and D'Arcy Rae along with Edinburgh hooker George Turner while Willem Nel and Peter Horne return back to the squad after missing the Six Nations tournament due to injuries.
Tommy Seymour and Stuart Hogg will also miss the summer tour as they head to New Zealand for Lions commitment.
Scotland are scheduled to play Italy in Singapore on 10th June following which they will lock horns with Australia and Fiji on 17th and 24th June respectively.
Scotland squad:
Backs: Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh Rugby), Ruaridh Jackson (Harlequins), Lee Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Tim Visser (Harlequins), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Gloucester), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh)
Forwards: Alex Allan (Glasgow Warriors), Allan Dell (Edinburgh Rugby), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby), D'Arcy Rae (Glasgow Warriors), Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby), George Turner (Edinburgh Rugby), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Toulouse), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby), John Barclay (Scarlets - captain), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby), John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby), Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors).
