2024-01-16 17:15:07
By Editorial with Reuters
Published 1 hour ago, Updated now
Scottish fly-half Finn Russell and full-back Blair Kinghorn. Norbert Scanella / Panoramic
Toulouse’s Blair Kinghorn and Toulon’s Ben White are part of the selection of a Chardon XV which will launch its Tournament with a trip to Wales on February 3.
Scotland manager Gregor Townsend has placed considerable faith in his experienced staff, calling up just four rookies in a squad of 39 players for the opening match of the Six Nations against Wales in Cardiff on Tuesday. February 3. Props Alec Hepburn and Will Hurd, fullback Harry Paterson and winger Arron Reed were called up for the first time. Hepburn has made six caps for England, but is eligible for the Chardon XV thanks to his Scottish-born father, as is Reed, a former England youth international.
Leicester Tigers prop Hurd represented Scotland at the under-20 level, while Paterson, who can play both on the wing and at full-back, was capped for the Scotland squad at 7. The rest of Townsend’s squad – whose captain is yet to be named – consists of 15 players from Glasgow Warriors, 13 from Edinburgh and 11 others who play outside Scotland. Hamish Watson and Chris Harris, who were capped with the British & Irish Lions in 2021, were not called up.
“An exciting ability to attack”
«Alec (Hepburn) has always been a great player. He has good scrum performance and we are delighted that he was able to be selected, Townsend said. It’s been over the last few months at Leicester that Will (Hurd) has really confirmed the type of player he is: a strong scrum player who hits hard in defense and works really hard.»
Townsend is also looking forward to seeing his new backline recruits in action. “Aaron (Reed) played regularly for Sale and I met him a few times to see where he stood in our pecking order. He rose to this level, poursuit Townsend. He provides real effort and speed, with an exciting ability to attack and is good in defense. We were impressed with Harry (Paterson), who is also an excellent striker with good kicking and can play anywhere at the back.»
The captain’s choice will be made next week as Jamie Ritchie, who captained the team at the last World Cup, is injured but is expected to be recovered in time to face Wales. Finally, Stade Toulousain full-back, Blair Kinghorn, and RCT scrum-half, Ben White, are part of the selection.
The Scotland group:
Advantages: Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Bhatti, Andy Christie, Luke Crosbie, Scott Cummings, Jack Dempsey, Rory Darge, Grant Gilchrist, Richie Gray, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Alec Hepburn, Will Hurd, Johnny Matthews, WP Nel, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Sam Skinner, George Turner, Glen Young.
Rear: Adam Hastings, Ben Healy, George Horne, Darcy Graham, Rory Hutchinson, Huw Jones, Blair Kinghorn, Stafford McDowall, Harry Paterson, Ali Price, Cameron Redpath, Arron Reed, Kyle Rowe, Finn Russell, Kyle Steyn, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White.
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