SCOTLAND ‘A’ will play a fixture for the first time in eight years next month when they take on Chile in Santiago. The match on Saturday 25 June at the Estadio Santa Laura Universidad will function as a warm-up for the senior international side’s three-match series against Argentina in July.  Kick-off will be at 9pm UK time and TV details have yet to be announced.

The team is expected to be made up largely of home-based players, and Gregor Townsend suggested it would be like October’s home game against Tonga, which preceded three tougher games for which the Scotland coach had a full complement from which to select. “Similar to the Tonga match last Autumn at BT Murrayfield, we will look to use a blend of youth and experience to start off the tour on a positive note,” Townsend said. 

“With the World Cup just around the corner, the four matches this summer will allow our players the chance to gain more game time and experience on the international stage.

“We always enjoy connecting with other countries and we are proud to be able to play Chile for the first time. It’ll also allow us another week to acclimatise to similar conditions that we’ll experience in Argentina such as playing at altitude and in a different time zone.”

The last outing for Scotland A was a 16-16 draw with England back in 2014.