Scotland include 17 uncapped players in squad for summer series
Jamie Ritchie will lead Scotland for their summer fixtures
©Steve Haag
Scotland have included 17 uncapped players in the 37-man squad announced for their summer series fixtures.
With regular coach Gregor Townsend joining the back room staff of Warren Gatland for the British and Irish Lions' tour of South Africa, Mike Blair will oversee the side and will be joined by forwards coach John Dalziel and scrum coach Pieter de Villiers along with Glasgow assistant coach Peter Murchie, who will be in charge of defence.
Blair Kinghorn, Matt Scott, Adam Hastings, Scott Cummings, Simon Berghan and Jamie Ritchie are the players with at least 20 caps to his name. Ritchie will also be captaining the side.
Glasgow Warriors quartet Rory Darge, Jamie Dobie, Rufus McLean and Ross Thompson, Edinburgh duo Luke Crosbie and Charlie Shiel along with Bath's Josh Bayliss and Sale Sharks' Ewan Ashman were previously involved in Scotland set up while Sione Tuipulotu, Kiran McDonald, Cole Forbes, Jack Blain, Jamie Hodgson, Nick Auterac, Javan Sebastian, Robin Hislop and Cameron Henderson are called up for the first time.
“We have selected a mix of genuine Test match experience and a number of players who have impressed in the recent past to warrant a place in a squad that will want to continue the positive progress we have built up on and off the pitch in recent months," said Blair.
“England A, Romania and Georgia will each pose different and tough challenges and we will have to be operating at our best to enjoy success, continuing on from some promising performances during the 2021 Guinness Six Nations.
“With the next Rugby World Cup two years away this period gives us an opportunity to increase our depth in key positions and work with players who can put up their hands for international selection this summer, and beyond.”
Scotland will be facing England A on 27th June at Mattioli Woods Welford Road followed by games against Romania and Georgia on 10th and 17th July respectively.
