Scotland announce 36-man training squad for autumn internationals

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has named 14-uncapped players in the training squad ahead of their autumn international campaign.

South Africa-born Edinburgh prop Pierre Schoeman has qualified to play for Scotland on residency grounds and has been included along with South Africa-born Sharks back-row Dylan Richardson.

Sione Tuipulotu, who was recently signed by Glasgow ccould make his Scotland debut against Tonga along with Rory Darge, Cole Forbes, Rufus McLean, Jamie Dobie and Ross Thompson.

Edinburgh's Luke Crosbie, Jamie Hodgson, Matt Currie, Charlie Savala, Marshall Sykes and Jack Blain will also be hoping to make their debut for Scotland as the game against Tonga on 30th October falls outside the traditional international window which might not prompt the clubs in England and France to release the players.

While skipper Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell, Adam Hastings, Duhan van der Merwe and Jonny Gray unavailable, Ali Price, Hamish Watson and Zander Fagerson will be amongst the players, who will attend the two-day training camp on 17th and 18th October at Oriam High Performance centre.

“It has been great to see both Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors make positive starts to their URC campaigns driven by some standout performances from both young and established players," said Townsend.

“With four tough Test matches ahead of us in this year’s Autumn Nations Series it is important we bring players together early, connect with them as coaches and enable them to grow as a group before the campaign gets underway against Tonga at BT Murrayfield. We’ll then move on to the challenge of facing in-form Australia, World Champions South Africa and a very dangerous Japan team.

“We are pleased with the depth we are able to call upon to make up this training squad and it provides a genuine opportunity for players to put their hand up for selection to the full Autumn Nations Series squad.”

Following the game against Tonga, Scotland will also host Australia, South Africa and Japan on 7th, 13th and 20th November respectively.

Scotland training squad:

Forwards: Jamie Bhatti, Fraser Brown, Luke Crosbie, Rory Darge, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Nick Haining, Rob Harley, Jamie Hodgson, Oli Kebble, Murray McCallum, Stuart McInally, Dylan Richardson, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Marshall Sykes, George Turner.

Backs: Mark Bennett, Jack Blain, Matt Currie, Jamie Dobie, Cole Forbes, Darcy Graham, George Horne, Damien Hoyland, Sam Johnson, Blair Kinghorn, James Lang, Rufus McLean, Ali Price, Charlie Savala, Kyle Steyn, Ross Thompson, Sione Tuipulotu.