Scotland include Ruaridh McConnochie in Six Nations squad

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has included Bath wing Ruaridh McConnochie in the squad for the upcoming Six Nations tournament.

McConnochie has already played for England two times in 2019 but is now eligible to play for Scotland due to World Rugby’s eligibility rules which will allow him to switch allegiance to a different nation after a three-year cooling period.

“I met Ruaridh when I visited bath before the November tests," said Townsend.

“I have known about since he was 17 or 18 years old, I remember meeting his dad who said way back then ‘Watch out for my son.’ I think he was at London Scottish U18s at the time.

“The name McConnochie stuck with me and he got into sevens at University and England capped him at sevens level and then England capped him but he is now available for us.

“I am sure his family will be very proud. I know it was one of his ambitions this year to be part of this squad and he has done that. He has played well the last few weeks for Bath and he has got an opportunity with us now.”

Apart from McConnochie, Munster fly-half Ben Healy, who is set to join Edinburgh is also part of the uncapped quartet in the squad that also has Leicester Tigers lock Cameron Henderson and Glasgow centre Stafford McDowall.

Townsend has retained Jamie Ritchie as captain for the tournament with the squad also featuring veteran fly-half Finn Russell along with Saracens wing Sean Maitland and Glasgow centre Huw Jones. Hamish Watson and Zander Fagerson are part of the squad despite sidelined with injuries.

Scotland squad:

Forwards: Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, Simon Berghan, Jamie Bhatti, Fraser Brown, Dave Cherry, Andy Christie, Luke Crosbie, Jack Dempsey, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Cameron Henderson, WP Nel, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Javan Sebastian, Sam Skinner, Rory Sutherland, George Turner, Hamish Watson

Backs: Chris Harris, Ben Healy, Stuart Hogg, George Horne, Huw Jones, Blair Kinghorn, Sean Maitland, Ruaridh McConnochie, Stafford McDowell, Ali Price, Cameron Redpath, Finn Russell, Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White