Scotland manager Gregor Townsend has announced a 40-man squad for this year's Six Nations, with several players making a return to the team. Experienced pair Jonny Gray and Dave Cherry are among those to be called back into action, while young Edinburgh duo Liam McConnell and Freddy Douglas will also feature.
Gray, who plays hooker for Bordeaux, joins fellow stalwarts Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings in the front row, with George Turner and Ewan Ashman providing additional options. Meanwhile, Cherry, 35, is set to make his first start in over a year after playing in Pro D2 for Vannes.
The back row selection has also been bolstered by the inclusion of Jamie Ritchie, Josh Bayliss, and Magnus Bradbury. The forwards have a mix of experience and youth, with several players having previously played for Scotland's national teams.
Townsend stated that he is confident in his squad's ability to compete at the highest level, particularly after the two-week recovery period. He acknowledged that injuries are inevitable but emphasized that rotation will be key in maintaining the team's fitness levels throughout the tournament.
However, there has been controversy surrounding some of the players' omissions, including Cam Henderson and Gregor Hiddleston. Hiddleston, who plays hooker for Glasgow, was expected to feature prominently after his impressive form last season but failed to make the cut.
The squad will be announced in full on Thursday, with Scotland set to face England at Murrayfield on February 7 before hosting Italy a week later. The final round of fixtures takes place in Dublin on March 14.
Gray, who plays hooker for Bordeaux, joins fellow stalwarts Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings in the front row, with George Turner and Ewan Ashman providing additional options. Meanwhile, Cherry, 35, is set to make his first start in over a year after playing in Pro D2 for Vannes.
The back row selection has also been bolstered by the inclusion of Jamie Ritchie, Josh Bayliss, and Magnus Bradbury. The forwards have a mix of experience and youth, with several players having previously played for Scotland's national teams.
Townsend stated that he is confident in his squad's ability to compete at the highest level, particularly after the two-week recovery period. He acknowledged that injuries are inevitable but emphasized that rotation will be key in maintaining the team's fitness levels throughout the tournament.
However, there has been controversy surrounding some of the players' omissions, including Cam Henderson and Gregor Hiddleston. Hiddleston, who plays hooker for Glasgow, was expected to feature prominently after his impressive form last season but failed to make the cut.
The squad will be announced in full on Thursday, with Scotland set to face England at Murrayfield on February 7 before hosting Italy a week later. The final round of fixtures takes place in Dublin on March 14.
I'm intrigued by Townsend's squad selection, which seems to strike a balance between experience and youth 
. While some omissions may have raised eyebrows, particularly regarding Hiddleston, it's worth noting that the coach has clearly weighed factors such as form, fitness, and team dynamics 
. The inclusion of players like Gray and Cherry, who've been away from the national scene for a while, adds an exciting element to the mix 
. With several new faces in the squad, I'm curious to see how Scotland's rotation strategy will play out 
β can they maintain their fitness levels without sacrificing team cohesion? Only time (and further announcements) will tell 
. Still, can't help but think what could've been if they'd given those guys a shot 
. On the flip side, it's awesome to see Jonny Gray and Dave Cherry back in the mix β that front row is looking like a beast 
! Bring on the Six Nations! 
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! love how townsend has brought back some of the experienced players like gray and cherry, they'll definitely be a force to be reckoned with on the pitch 
. but i feel bad for hiddleston and henderson who didn't make the cut 
. 40-man squad is a lot, i hope they can rotate the players well without getting anyone too tired 
. scotland vs england at murrayfield sounds like an epic match! 
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? Gray and Cherry are both super experienced, so like what's not to trust them? 
, and with that two-week recovery period, they'll be ready to take on the best of Europe 
too many cooks in the kitchen can't be good for fitness levels 
I'm soooo hyped for this year's Six Nations, but also kinda lowkey bummed for some of the omissions 
. Like, Cam Henderson and Gregor Hiddleston are HUGE snubs 
! You'd think they'd have been top picks, especially with Henderson's form last season 
. And I get why Cherry's comeback is a big deal, he's been out for ages and you want to make sure he's ready before throwing him into the fire 
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omg what's up w/ all these omissions?? 
he's got a mix of experience and youth which should b great for the team. josh bayliss is one of my faves 
and i love how they're focusing on rotation to keep the players fresh throughout the tournament that makes total sense
so like I was thinking about this squad announcement and I'm all for the experience they're bringing together, Jonny Gray and Dave Cherry are legends! 
. And then I started thinking about how slow the Six Nations is going to be, especially with all these injuries... but you know who's not going to get injured? The sloths in this video! They're just chillin', living their best lives. Anyway, back to Scotland - I hope they can pull off a good tournament, but let's be real, the sloths have my money on them 
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. Is Scotland really putting enough resources into developing their young players? Or are they just throwing good money after bad with these veteran signings? 
We'll have to wait and see how it all plays out, but one thing's for sure - this is gonna be a wild ride! 