Four players cut as Townsend reduces Scotland squad to 37

Gregor Townsend has cut four players from his Scotland training squad as he named a 37-strong training squad ahead of their match against France in Saint-Etienne.

Stafford McDowall, Adam Hastings, Cameron Henderson and Kyle Rowe have all been sent back to their clubs, and barring injury, appear to be out of the reckoning for a Rugby World Cup spot.

A statement reads: “Following yesterday’s 25-21 victory over France, Gregor Townsend has reduced his Rugby World Cup training squad to 37. Stafford McDowall, Adam Hastings, Cameron Henderson and Kyle Rowe have returned to their clubs ahead of the match against France in St. Etienne next Saturday and the Rugby World Cup squad being named on Wednesday 16 August.”

With Hastings cut it suggests that former Musnter standoff Ben Healey looks odds on to go to the Rugby World Cup.

Updated Scotland training squad for Rugby World Cup 2023

FORWARDS:
Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby) 4 caps
Dave Cherry (Edinburgh Rugby) 9 caps
Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby) 5 caps
Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 27 caps
Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors) 9 caps
Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 10 caps
Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 35 caps
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 59 caps
Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) 63 caps
Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 74 caps
Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) 48 caps
WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 54 caps
Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) – CAPTAIN – 41 caps
Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 22 caps
Javan Sebastian (Edinburgh Rugby) 4 caps
Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby) 26 caps
Rory Sutherland (Unattached) 24 caps
George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) 36 caps
Murphy Walker (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) 58 caps

BACKS:
Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors) 2 cap
Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby) 35 caps
Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby) 43 caps
Ben Healy (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps
George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 21 caps
Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 37 caps
Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 45 caps
Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) 62 caps
Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby) 7 caps
Finn Russell (Bath Rugby) 70 caps
Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps
Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 11 caps
Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 17 caps
Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 29 caps
Ben White (RC Toulon) 15 caps