Townsend names uncapped trio in Scotland tour squad

Gregor Townsend has named uncapped trio Nick Grigg, D’Arcy Rae and George Turner in his first Scotland squad for the Tests against Italy, Australia and Fiji next month.

Glasgow Warriors duo Grigg and Rae could make their international debuts against the Azzurri in Singapore on June 10 along with Edinburgh hooker Turner.

New Zealand-born centre Grigg, 24, has experienced a rapid rise, having only made his debut for the Warriors last September.

Prop Rae is in line for his full Scotland bow at the age of 22, having worked his way through the age grades, while Turner has also been given the nod by new head coach Townsend after playing at youth level for his country.

BREAKING | Here’s YOUR Scotland squad for the 2017 summer tour against @azzurri @qantaswallabies @fijirugby #AsOne pic.twitter.com/OPP9Vc3AFi

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) May 8, 2017

Pete Horne and WP Nel have been named in a 34-man squad after recovering from injuries, while Lee Jones, Ruaridh Jackson and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne earned recalls.

Edinburgh scrum-half Hidalgo-Clyne was included following captain Greig Laidlaw’s British and Irish Lions call-up for the tour of New Zealand. John Barclay will be skipper for the tour.

Scotland take on Australia in Sydney on June 17 and Fiji in Suva a week later.

Townsend said: “We have assembled a strong squad and this is an opportunity for them work with us for the first time. We’re going to have three weeks’ preparation in Scotland before we head overseas, which will enable us to implement the key components of how we will play.

“Ultimately, though, this is a tour that will be about competition – for each individual to compete for a starting place and for them to work hard and find a way to win every time they play.”

Scotland squad:

Forwards: Alex Allan, Allan Dell, Zander Fagerson, Willem Nel, D’Arcy Rae, Gordon Reid, Fraser Brown, Ross Ford, George Turner, Richie Gray, Jonny Gray, Tim Swinson, Ben Toolis, John Barclay (captain), Magnus Bradbury, John Hardie, Rob Harley, Josh Strauss, Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson.

Backs: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Ali Price, Henry Pyrgos, Pete Horne, Finn Russell, Alex Dunbar, Nick Grigg, Matt Scott, Duncan Taylor, Damien Hoyland, Ruaridh Jackson, Lee Jones, Sean Maitland, Tim Visser.

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