Only three uncapped players in strong Scotland squad for July tour

Gregor Townsend has not opted to experiment with his squad ahead of their tour of the Pacific in July, only naming three uncapped players in his 36-man squad.

A year after naming 10 uncapped players in his squad for their tour of the Americas, Townsend has refrained this year, despite being short of eight of his regulars who have been selected for the British and Irish Lions.

All three of his uncapped players – Saracens’ Fergus Burke, Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente No.8 Alexander Masibaka and Glasgow Warriors tighthead prop Fin Richardson – have been involved in Scotland camps, with the prop represented Scotland A in November.

Harlequins-bound George Turner has returned to the squad following a stint in Japan, while Andy Onyeama-Christie has been selected again after overcoming a gruesome ankle injury.

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The squad, led by flanker Rory Darge, will take on the Maori All Blacks, Fiji and Samoa in July.

“All three games will be big challenges, they’re going to be physical challenges,” Townsend said. “We’re going to play against dynamic, powerful players that want to move the ball around. So a real test for our defence, but an opportunity for us to bring our strengths too.”

With Scotland placed only two places ahead of Fiji in the world rankings, Townsend said: “This more is even more relevant as the World Cup draw gets made after the November Tests, so we have two campaigns now to make sure we’re as higher placed as possible to give ourselves a draw where we’re seeded in the top six.”

Scotland squad
Backs (15)
Fergus Burke – Saracens (uncapped)
Matt Currie – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (12)
Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (46)
Adam Hastings – Glasgow Warriors (32)
George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (36)
Tom Jordan – Glasgow Warriors (8)
Cameron Redpath – Bath Rugby (14)
Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (13)
Harry Paterson – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
Arron Reed – Sale Sharks (3)
Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (12)
Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors (9)
Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (23)
Ben White – Toulon (29)

Forwards (21)
Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (27)
Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (10)
Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (9)
Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (55)
Rory Darge (c) – Glasgow Warriors (30)
Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (80)
Patrick Harrison – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
Cameron Henderson – Leicester Tigers (1)
Alec Hepburn – Scarlets (4)
Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (8)
Alexander Masibaka –Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente (uncapped)
Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (2)
Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints (7)
Ben Muncaster – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
Andy Onyeama-Christie – Saracens (8)
Fin Richardson – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
Jamie Ritchie – Edinburgh Rugby (59)
Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (41)
Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
George Turner – Kobelco Kobe Steelers (45)
Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (6)