Scotland recall Matt Scott and Duncan Taylor for Six Nations 2017
Matt Scott has been handed a Scotland recall with a place in the RBS 6 Nations Championship squad
©PA
Scotland have recalled Gloucester centre Matt Scott and Saracens wing Duncan Taylor for the upcoming 2017 Six Nations campaign.
Both players last featured for their country during Scotland's tour of Japan in June 2016. Taylor missed the autumn internationals due to injury while Scott was overlooked for the November Tests. However, he has forced his way back into the squad after scoring 12 tries for Gloucester this season.
Uncapped Edinburgh forwards Simon Berghan and Cornell du Preez have been included by head coach Vern Cotter while David Denton and Alasdair Dickinson miss out due to injuries. Edinburgh prop WP Nel is also included in the squad but is waiting for clearance from a neck injury after he underwent a scan.
This will also be Cotter's final stint with Scotland as he is set to become head coach of Montpellier this summer and will be replaced by Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend for the national role.
"It's a well-balanced and exciting group that have played a lot of rugby together, know each other well and are ambitious to do well in a Scotland jersey," said Cotter.
"I think if we get our mind-set right we can be competitive and push for wins in every game in this campaign."
Scotland squad for Six Nations 2017:
Forwards: Alex Allan, Zander Fagerson, Gordon Reid (all Glasgow Warriors), Simon Berghan, Allan Dell, Willem Nel (all Edinburgh Rugby), Jon Welsh (Newcastle Falcons), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Ross Ford, Stuart McInally (both Edinburgh Rugby), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Toulouse), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby), John Barclay (Scarlets), Cornell Du Preez, John Hardie, Hamish Watson (all Edinburgh Rugby), Rob Harley, Josh Strauss, Ryan Wilson (all Glasgow Warriors)
Backs: Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester), Ali Price, Henry Pyrgos, Finn Russell (all Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Weir (Edinburgh Rugby), Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Huw Jones (Stormers), Matt Scott (Gloucester), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh Rugby), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Tim Visser (Harlequins)
