Six Nations: Ben Healy one of four uncapped players in Scotland’s squad, Darcy Graham ruled out
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has named his squad for the upcoming Six Nations, with four uncapped players included.
Townsend has selected a mix of experience and youth in the group, with 10 players boasting over 50 Test caps featuring alongside the four new faces.
The squad features Munster fly-half Ben Healy and former England wing Ruaridh McConnochie.
Uncapped quartet
Edinburgh-bound Healy has been named and will provide competition for Finn Russell at fly-half. The 23-year-old Munster pivot has signed a deal to join Edinburgh next season and qualifies for Scotland through his mother. He represented Ireland at U20 level.
Bath wing McConnochie has also been included and qualifies for Scotland despite featuring for England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
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The speedster played two Tests for England in 2019 and is now eligible to be selected due to World Rugby’s eligibility rules allowing a capped player to switch allegiance to another country they are eligible to play for following a three-year cooling-off period.
Leicester Tigers lock Cameron Henderson returns to the squad after his call-up for the cancelled 2021 summer Tests against England A, Romania and Georgia.
The fourth uncapped player is Glasgow Warriors centre Stafford McDowall, who has been in outstanding form, helping the side to seven straight wins; he captained the side in the recent win over Perpignan.
Captain Ritchie
Jamie Ritchie, who led Scotland in all four of the 2022 Autumn Nations Series fixtures, retains the captain’s armband for the Six Nations.
He is joined in the squad by experienced campaigners who will be making their return to the Test set-up, including Saracens wing Sean Maitland and Glasgow centre Huw Jones.
Finally, Hamish Watson and Zander Fagerson are included despite being sidelined by injury in recent months, but Darcy Graham, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge and Adam Hastings – who have also been battling fitness issues – have not made the 40-man squad.
Scotland kick off their Six Nations campaign with a Calcutta Cup clash with England at Twickenham.
Scotland’s Six Nations 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
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