FORWARDS
PROPS
Alex Allan
Club: Glasgow
Age: 24
Caps: 3
The Warriors loosehead made his debut off the bench against the USA in 2014 and was also a replacement in last year’s Autumn Tests against Argentina and Georgia, meaning he is one of the few squad members to have a 100 per cent record. Behind Allan Dell and Gordon Reid in the pecking order, he may only be involved later on in the campaign if Alasdair Dickinson fails to recover from injury in time.
Simon Berghan
Club: Edinburgh
Age: 26
Caps: 0
Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, the tighthead is eligible for Scotland thanks to a grandfather born in Stirling. Called up to the squad for the first time for the Six Nations, he too could have to wait until later in the championship before making his debut.
Allan Dell
Club: Edinburgh
Age: 24
Caps: 3
The loosehead prop made his debut against Australia in November and also played in the subsequent two Tests. Originally an understudy to Alasdair Dickinson at Edinburgh, he has made rapid progress this scene and been outstanding in the loose as well as in the set piece.
Zander Fagerson
Club: Glasgow
Age: 21
Caps: 4
Already an accomplished tighthead, he looks set to be a fixture in the Scotland squad for some time to come. Expecting a start in all five matches may be unrealistic for a relatively inexperienced player who would have been second choice behind WP Nel, but he is growing in stature all the time.
Gordon Reid
Club: Glasgow
Age: 29
Caps: 19
Vying with Allan Dell for the No 1 jersey, the Warriors loosehead is a formidably strong scrummager and enjoys a reputation as one of the most important members of the squad for keeping up team morale. Has won most of his caps as a replacement.
Jon Welsh
Club: Newcastle
Age: 30
Caps: 11
The former Glasgow tighthead won his first cap in 2012 and featured in the last World Cup. With WP Nel out injured, his experience could prove invaluable as back-up for Zander Fagerson - though he faces a fight with Simon Berghan for a place on the bench.
HOOKERS
Fraser Brown
Club: Glasgow
Age: 27
Caps: 20
His past as a flanker is evident in how well he plays in the loose, and his versatility has proven useful when others have been injured. Has won most of his caps as a replacement, but is pushing Ford hard for a starting place.
Ross Ford
Club: Edinburgh
Age: 32
Caps: 102
Scotland’s most-capped forward ever has enjoyed a new lease of life this season, with his display against Georgia in November being arguably his best in an international career that began back in 2004. His rivalry with Ford and unrelenting work ethic have helped him keep improving.
Stuart McInally
Club: Edinburgh
Age: 26
Caps: 9
The joint club captain this season with Grant Gilchrist, he is another hooker who used to play in the back row. First capped in the 2015 World Cup warm-up match in Turin, he missed out on the tournament itself because of injury. Played in both Tests against Japan last summer but did not feature in the autumn internationals.
LOCKS
Grant Gilchrist
Club: Edinburgh
Age: 26
Caps: 15
Named as captain for the 2014 Autumn Tests, he was denied the honour by injury. His 2015 World Cup campaign was also curtailed by injury, but last year he played in all three Autumn Tests. Faces a fight with Tim Swinson for a place on the bench.
Jonny Gray
Club: Glasgow
Age: 22
Caps: 28
Few Scottish players in recent decades could justifiably be labelled world-class, and fewer still have deserved the tag at such a tender age as the younger Gray brother. First capped in late 2013, he has since become one of the most important members of the squad and is seen as one of the Scots most likely to earn a place in the Lions squad for the tour to New Zealand later this year.
As joint club captain at the Warriors along with scrum-half Henry Pyrgos, he has played a vital role this season in helping the team to their first-ever European Champions Cup quarter-final. Quiet and unassertive off the field, he is an increasingly vocal presence on it. Approaching 30 caps already, he seems sure to follow Ross Ford and go on to become a centurion for his country.
A selfless volunteer for the hard carries when Scotland are in possession, he really comes into his own in defence, regularly topping the tackle statistics. Playing alongside his older brother Richie in recent matches has further enhanced his effectiveness, and the siblings appear to have established themselves as head coach Vern Cotter’s first-choice second-row partnership.
Richie Gray
Club: Toulouse
Age: 27
Caps: 60
First capped in 2010, he was a member of the Lions squad that won the 2013 series in Australia, coming off the bench in the Sydney Test. An excellent source of lineout ball, as befitting someone who is the tallest member of the squad at 6ft 9in, he has been inspired to raise his game over the past couple of years by the emergence of his younger brother Jonny.
Tim Swinson
Club: Glasgow
Age: 29
Caps: 25
Some superb recent displays at club level have taken the Warriors lock back into contention for a place in Vern Cotter’s matchday squad in the Six Nations. Voted man of the match in the narrow Champions Cup defeat by Munster last month, he won the same honour in the triumph against Leicester a week later, thanks in large part on both occasions to some outstanding work in the loose.
Ben Toolis
Club: Edinburgh
Age: 24
Caps: 1
Capped as a replacement against Italy two years ago, the Brisbane-born lock is eligible for Scotland as his mother was born in Carluke. With the Gray brothers in superb form and Swinson and Gilchrist vying to be their back-ups, he may have to remain patient for a while longer before adding to that so far solitary cap.
BACK ROW
John Barclay
Club: Scarlets
Age: 30
Caps: 55
Was out of favour for a time under previous coaches but has more than justified his recall by Vern Cotter. First capped in the 2007 World Cup, he is a versatile player who can fit in anywhere in the back row, although playing at 6 with Ryan Wilson at 8 seems to bring the best out of him.
John Hardie
Club: Edinburgh
Age: 28
Caps: 13
Was an instant success at openside when he made his debut in the 2015 World Cup warm-up games, and has turned in some near-flawless performances in defence. More recently has had to compete for the No 7 jersey with Hamish Watson for both Edinburgh and Scotland, and is currently about to return from injury.
Rob Harley
Club: Glasgow
Age: 26
Caps: 19
A very combative defender who excels at getting under the skin of the opposition, he is best deployed at blindside but can also fill in at lock if required. First capped in 2012, he only played once in last year’s Six Nations and may have to wait for his chance until later in this year’s championship.
Cornell du Preez
Club: Edinburgh
Age: 25
Caps: 0
In the Six Nations squad for the first time after qualifying to represent Scotland on the residency rule, he is a powerful No 8 who is coming back to his best form after injury. Can expect to be capped at some point over the coming weeks, but is in the part of the pack where competition is stiffest.
Josh Strauss
Club: Glasgow
Age: 30
Caps: 9
Made his debut at the 2015 World Cup after qualifying on residency, and played in three of last year’s Six Nations games. A big part of Glasgow’s progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup, he faces a fight with clubmate Ryan Wilson for the No 8 jersey.
Hamish Watson
Club: Edinburgh
Age: 25
Caps: 5
The openside flanker has been one of Scotland’s form players of the season so far, and played in every minute of the three Autumn Test. Adapted quickly to the heightened demands of the international game after making his debut two years ago, and will not give up the No 7 jersey easily to John Hardie.
Ryan Wilson
Club: Glasgow
Age: 27
Caps: 23
Is enjoying an excellent season with Glasgow and has become one of the most reliable performers in the Scotland team in both defence and attack. Another versatile back-row performer, he is most effective at No 8, where he epitomises the indefatigable approach demanded by Vern Cotter.
BACKS
SCRUM-HALVES
Greig Laidlaw
Club: Gloucester
Age: 31
Caps: 56
One of the world’s best goal-kickers, since being handed the captaincy he has also matured into one of the most able and inspiring leaders in the game, and has dragged his team out of some tricky situations. May well start every match, with both Ali Price and Henry Pyrgos being options off the bench if Scotland are behind and need a change of tempo.
Ali Price
Club: Glasgow
Age: 23
Caps: 1
Has made rapid progress this season with Glasgow, putting in some impressive performances in Europe. Made a well-deserved debut against Georgia in November, and will now battle with team-mate Henry Pyrgos for a spot on the bench behind Greig Laidlaw.
Henry Pyrgos
Club: Glasgow
Age: 27
Caps: 18
First capped back in 2012, he established himself as the back-up scrum-half to Greig Laidlaw in time for the last World Cup. Has missed part of the season through injury and must fight to displace Ali Price to reclaim his matchday jersey.
STAND-OFFS
Finn Russell
Club: Glasgow
Age: 24
Caps: 22
Recognised as one of the most exciting talents in the game some time before he made his Scotland debut in the summer of 2014, the Warriors fly-half is now one of the first names on Vern Cotter’s teamsheet. An all-round talent who enjoys defending almost as much as attacking, he can kick well, has an eye for the defence-splitting pass, and also keeps the opposition guessing because of his predilection for making a break on his own. His irrepressible enthusiasm for attacking play has at times led him to take risks, but Gregor Townsend, his coach at Glasgow, has worked closely with him on his decision-making and a more judicious approach has resulted. Because of the lack of competition for his position, he is arguably the single most important member of the squad. With a fit Finn Russell on the field, Scotland have a good chance of conjuring up something magical: without him, they become that bit more predictable.
Duncan Weir
Club: Edinburgh
Age: 25
Caps: 23
Won two of his caps in last year’s Six Nations, and has returned to the squad as back-up for Finn Russell after missing out on the Autumn Tests. His game is not as close to Russell’s as is that of the injured Peter Horne, but what he lacks in attacking flair he makes up for with a calm and dependable approach.
CENTRES
Mark Bennett
Club: Glasgow
Age: 24
Caps: 17
Made his debut in 2014 and was shortlisted for World Rugby’s Emerging Player of the Year award the following year thanks to his attacking prowess. More recently has found it harder to hold down a place at outside centre because of the emergence of Huw Jones and the fine form of Duncan Taylor.
Alex Dunbar
Club: Glasgow
Age: 26
Caps: 19
While the debate rages about who should play at outside centre, there is near unanimity that the man at inside centre should be Dunbar. His solid defence and intelligent distribution, as well as his eye for a half break, have made him one of the most reliable members of the squad since he made his debut in 2013.
Huw Jones
Club: Stormers
Age: 23
Caps: 3
One of the finds of last summer’s tour to Japan, the outside centre scored two tries in the Autumn Test against the Wallabies. Still plays his club rugby in South Africa, but was born in Edinburgh and has been continually linked with a move to either the capital side or Glasgow.
Matt Scott
Club: Gloucester
Age: 26
Caps: 36
Fell out of favour last Autumn but has been recalled for the Six Nations thanks in large part to his fine try-scoring form in the English Premiership. An almost automatic choice at times during his six-year international career, he faces a fight to get a place in the matchday line-up for this campaign.
Duncan Taylor
Club: Saracens
Age: 27
Caps: 18
A relative latecomer to the international arena, having only made his debut in 2013, he has made up for lost time and injury lay-offs to become one of the most consistently impressive performers in the team. Played in all Six Nations games last year and is set to be just as vital a member of the squad for this campaign.
BACK THREE
Stuart Hogg
Club: Glasgow
Age: 24
Caps: 48
One of the most naturally gifted member of the squad, the full-back also ranks among the most threatening counter-attackers in world rugby. Secure under the high ball and always aware of the possibility of a long-range try, he also takes over the kicking duties for penalties around the halfway line.
Damien Hoyland
Club: Edinburgh
Age: 23
Caps: 2
Has yet to play in the Six Nations, having made his debut in the World Cup warm-up match in Turin two years ago then won his second cap on the 2016 tour to Japan. Is up against strong competition for a wing berth.
Sean Maitland
Club: Saracens
Age: 28
Caps: 26
Scored on his debut against England back in 2013 and has started for all but two of his caps. Has been on good form recently for Champions Cup holders Saracens, and, while he is primarily used by Scotland on the wing, he can also deputise at full-back for Stuart Hogg.
Tommy Seymour
Club: Glasgow
Age: 28
Caps: 31
Made his debut four years ago and has continued to improve with experience, to the extent that he is now close to being an automatic first choice. Has been on outstanding scoring form for the Warriors, and also has an extremely sharp eye for an interception.
Tim Visser
Club: Harlequins
Age: 29
Caps: 28
One of the best finishers in the game both at his former club Edinburgh and now for Harlequins, he scored two tries on his 2012 debut against Fiji and now has 11 for his country. Born in the Netherlands, he qualifies for Scotland through the residency rule.
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