Scotland name 2023 Six Nations training squad

January 17, 2023
2232
Ultimate Rugby

Bath Rugby wing Ruaridh McConnochie, Glasgow Warriors centre Stafford McDowall and stand-off Ben Healy, who recently agreed a move to Edinburgh Rugby from Munster, are all named in head coach Gregor Townsend’s selection, with Leicester Tigers’ second row Cameron Henderson also in contention for full international honours.

McConnochie, who won two caps for England in 2019, is now eligible to be selected due to World Rugby’s eligibility rules allowing a capped player to switch allegiance to another country they are eligible to play for following a three-year cooling off period.

Healy, who will move to Edinburgh ahead of the 2023/24 season, qualifies through his maternal grandparents, having represented Ireland at under-20 level.

Second-row Cameron Henderson joined Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2020/21 season, having previously been a part of both the FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy and Stirling County’s FOSROC Super6 squad. He was selected for the ultimately cancelled 2021 summer squad for matches with England A, Romania and Georgia.

McDowall has been in great form for Glasgow Warriors this season and recently captained the club for their away win against Perpignan in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

In a squad headed up by captain Ritchie, who led Scotland in all four of the 2022 Autumn Nations Series fixtures, there are returns for experienced players such as Saracens’ Sean Maitland, who has 15 tries from his 53 caps, and centre Huw Jones, who re-joined Glasgow Warriors ahead of the current season and will hope to add to his 31 Scotland appearances, and 12 tries.

There are 10 players who have earned at least 50 Scotland caps, with Exeter Chiefs full-back Stuart Hogg, on 96 appearances for his country, approaching a landmark figure on the eve of the championship.

Tickets are still available for the final fixture of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations, as Scotland host Italy at BT Murrayfield on Saturday 19 March HERE.

Scotland squad for the 2023 Guinness Six Nations

Forwards

Ewan Ashman (Sale Sharks) 6 caps

Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby) 3 caps

Simon Berghan (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps

Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 25 caps

Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) 57 caps

Dave Cherry (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps

Andy Christie (Saracens) 4 caps

Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps

Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps

Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 28 caps