Townsend unveils strong Scotland squad for Nations Series

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has named a 45-player squad for the upcoming Nations Series, with the uncapped forward trio of Liam McConnell, Harri Morris and Alexander Masibaka included.

Flanker McConnell and hooker Morris, from Edinburgh, both played for Emerging Scotland last year against Italy with McConnell captaining the side.

Masibaka toured with Scotland in July and will be aiming for his first cap this November. Fresh from his Lions exploits, Sione Tuipulotu returns to the Scotland squad and will lead them as captain.

Ahead of fixtures on consecutive weekends against USA, New Zealand, Argentina and Tonga, 45 players have been initially selected, comprising 27 forwards and 18 backs.

Who’s getting the call today? 👀#AsOne pic.twitter.com/abDl6yuTd8

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) October 21, 2025

Of the former, Edinburgh captain Magnus Bradbury returns to the international fold, seeking a first Scotland cap since the 2022 tour to Argentina.

Bradbury is part of a back-row contingent including the uncapped Masibaka and McConnell, as well as Jamie Ritchie, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Andy Onyeama-Christie, Josh Bayliss and Gregor Brown.

In the second row, fresh from the British & Irish Lions tour in the summer, Scott Cummings is joined by Glasgow Warriors teammates Max Williamson and Alex Samuel, alongside evergreen Edinburgh stalwart Grant Gilchrist and clubmate Marshall Sykes.

There are four hookers named, with George Turner joined by Edinburgh Rugby trio Ewan Ashman, Partick Harrison and Harri Morris. Ashman is one of 11 British & Irish Lions included. Dylan Richardson has impressed at flanker recently for Edinburgh and he also selected.

The forward selection is completed by the seven-strong group of Pierre Schoeman, Rory Sutherland, D’Arcy Rae, Nathan McBeth, Murphy Walker and Elliot Millar Mills, with Zander Fagerson making a welcome return to the international squad after injury curtailed his British & Irish Lions journey.

The backs have a familiar look, with Duhan van der Merwe – on the cusp of 50 Scotland caps – named alongside Darcy Graham, Kyle Steyn, Arron Reed, Blair Kinghorn and Kyle Rowe.

Sione Tuipulotu, Rory Hutchinson, Ollie Smith, Tom Jordan and Stafford McDowall are options in the centres, with Finn Russell, Adam Hastings and Fergus Burke included as the three stand-offs.

Finally, Ben White, George Horne and Jamie Dobie once more make up the scrumhalf selection.

Scotland squad:

Backs:

Fergus Burke, Jamie Dobie, Darcy Graham, Adam Hastings, Rory Hutchinson, George Horne, Tom Jordan, Blair Kinghorn, Stafford McDowall, Kyle Rowe, Arron Reed, Finn Russell, Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn, Ross Thompson, Sione Tuipulotu (Captain), Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White,

Forwards:

Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, Magnus Bradbury, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Patrick Harrison, Nathan McBeth, Alexander Masibaka, Liam McConnell, Elliot Millar Mills, Harri Morris, Andy Onyeama-Christie, D’Arcy Rae, Dylan Richardson, Jamie Ritchie, Alex Samuel, Pierre Schoeman, Rory Sutherland, Marshall Sykes, George Turner, Murphy Walker, Max Williamson