Scotland add two forwards and release another

Exeter Chiefs second-row Sam Skinner and Glasgow Warriors back-row Matt Fagerson were today (Sunday) added to the Scotland squad for the Guinness Six Nations.

Scotland are looking to bounce back from two close opening defeats in this competition. A narrow 19 – 12 loss to Ireland in Dublin was followed up by another close fought 13 – 6 loss to England at Murrayfield in horrific conditions.

Earlier in the week they lost the services of Jonny Gray for the remainder of the tournament.

Respective hamstring and rib injuries ruled both Skinner and Fagerson out of the initial selection announced by Head Coach Gregor Townsend last month, with both players impressing for their club sides since their return.

Skinner last featured for Scotland in last year’s Summer Test win over France at BT Murrayfield, when he sustained the hamstring injury that would rule him out of contention for Rugby World Cup 2019.

Fagerson’s last Test outing came the following weekend, in the away win over Georgia in Tbilisi, with the 21-year-old narrowly missing out on the Japan tournament.

Gloucester second-row Alex Craig has been released from the squad back to his club.

Scotland squad

Forwards: Simon Berghan (Edinburgh), Jamie Bhatti (Edinburgh), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Allan Dell (London Irish), Cornell du Preez (Worcester Warriors), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Tom Gordon (Glasgow Warriors), Nick Haining (Edinburgh), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Willem Nel (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs), Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh), George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh)

Backs: Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Chris Harris (Gloucester), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, capt), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), Sam Johnson (Glasgow Warriors), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Byron McGuigan (Sale Sharks), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), Henry Pyrgos (Edinburgh), Matt Scott (Edinburgh), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), Ratu Tagive (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Weir (Worcester Warriors)

WATCH: Press conference with Scotland coach Gregor Townsend as he names his squad for this year’s Guinness Six Nations.