Scotland include 12 uncapped players in autumn internationals squad

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has included 12 uncapped players in the 42-man squad for the upcoming autumn international campaign.

Eight players in the pack Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, Rory Darge, Dylan Richardson, Luke Crosbie, Jamie Hodgson, Marshall Sykes and Pierre Schoeman will be part of the squad along with backs Rufus McLean, Jamie Dobie, Ross Thompson and Sione Tuipulotu.

British and Irish Lions contingents including skipper Stuart Hogg, Ali Price, Finn Russell, Chris Harris, Duhan van de Merwe, Hamish Watson, Zander Fagerson and Rory Sutherland return to the squad.

“It’s exciting to bring together a blend of highly experienced and uncapped players for our first week of the Autumn Nations Series campaign,” said Townsend.

“There have been some notable performances from both our home-based players and those at clubs outside of Scotland, which has enabled us as coaches to select a group which are playing well and will be motivated across the four games.

“We also feel that this the right time to bring in some younger players given their early season form. They have created opportunities for themselves to represent their country and we believe that they will thrive in the Test match environment."

Scotland will kick-start their autumn international campaign with a clash against Tonga on 30th October followed by encounters against Australia, South Africa and Japan on 7th, 13th and 20th November respectively.

Scotland squad:

Forwards: Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, 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, Sam Skinner, Pierre Schoeman, Rory Sutherland, Marshall Sykes, George Turner, Hamish Watson

Backs: Mark Bennett, Darcy Graham, Jamie Dobie, Chris Harris, Adam Hastings, Stuart Hogg, George Horne, Damien Hoyland, Sam Johnson, Huw Jones, Blair Kinghorn, Duhan van der Merwe, Rufus McLean, Ali Price, Finn Russell, Matt Scott, Kyle Steyn, Ross Thompson, Sione Tuipulotu.