Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has named his squad for the 2026 Six Nations, claiming that some of his players are in \u201creally good form\u201d ahead of the Championship.<\/p>\n
Townsend\u2019s selection is supplemented by a 15-strong A group ahead of an Italy A clash on the eve of Scotland\u2019s opening Test of the campaign, against Italy on Saturday, February 7.<\/p>\n
The boss said consistency and form were the key drivers behind his selections, with many players having featured in recent Six Nations<\/a> while continuing to impress in the club game.<\/p>\n In really good form<\/p>\n \u201cThe Six Nations squad is full of players that are either in really good form or have been in Six Nations squads before,\u201d Townsend<\/a> explained. \u201cSome of them are in really good form as well, so it was a difficult squad to select.\u201d<\/p>\n Scotland<\/a> have also fielded a strong A side against Italy A, fielding such players as Ollie Blyth-Lafferty and Alec Hepburn.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be a really strong A team that we put out, and we expect a tough game against Italy A,\u201d Townsend said.<\/p>\n 19 Glasgow Warriors players are included in the 40-player group, reflecting their strong domestic and European form.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve been in great form,\u201d the boss said. \u201cThey\u2019ve played at a really high level, particularly in Europe, with some cracking atmospheres. You can see the cohesion and connectedness of that group, and they\u2019ve been rewarded for both individual performances and how they\u2019re playing as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n Glasgow Warriors confirm the departure of British & Irish Lions star to Top 14 heavyweights<\/a><\/p>\n Edinburgh pair Liam McConnell and Freddy Douglas have also earned selection after continuing to develop following their Scotland debuts.<\/p>\n \u201cLiam really impressed us in his first cap against the USA, and he\u2019s been very consistent for Edinburgh this season,\u201d Townsend said.<\/p>\n Douglas, meanwhile, has stood out in one particular area of the game.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got a super strength, which is winning the ball back in the tackle area,\u201d Townsend added. \u201cHe\u2019s been one of the best in the world right now at that. But he\u2019s also developing other parts of his game \u2014 his mauling, his ball carrying, defensively. There\u2019s real growth and more to come from him.\u201d<\/p>\n Return of the duo, Cherry and Gray<\/p>\n The return of Dave Cherry and Jonny Gray brings valuable experience into the group ahead of a physically demanding tournament.<\/p>\n \u201cDave started every game for us in last year\u2019s Six Nations,\u201d Townsend said. \u201cHe\u2019s gone well this year for Vannes and we feel his experience and how he\u2019s playing is important going into this tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n Gray\u2019s form in France has also impressed the coach.<\/p>\n \u201cJonny\u2019s playing at one of the best clubs in Europe right now in Bordeaux,\u201d Townsend said. \u201cWhen he gets opportunities, you see his work rate, his experience and what he can do, particularly defensively.\u201d<\/p>\n Townsend believes Scotland must convert the lessons of the Autumn Nations Series into tangible progress, particularly after narrow defeats to New Zealand and Argentina.<\/p>\n Scotland prop on the move as Newcastle Red Bulls continue \u2018aggressive\u2019 rebuild<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe had opportunities to beat New Zealand, which would have been the first time in our history,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re really disappointed we didn\u2019t take those opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n The Argentina loss, in particular, still stings.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was a painful one because we put a really good game in place and then let Argentina back into it,\u201d Townsend said. \u201cBut I believe going through that experience means that if we find ourselves in that situation again, we\u2019ll be much better prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n Painful autumn<\/p>\n Townsend believes Scotland must convert the lessons of the Autumn Nations Series into tangible progress, particularly after narrow defeats to New Zealand and Argentina.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had opportunities to beat New Zealand, which would have been the first time in our history,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re really disappointed we didn\u2019t take those opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n With only one fallow week and three matches to start the tournament, Townsend expects squad depth and recovery to be vital.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a more condensed tournament,\u201d he said. \u201cTeams will definitely look at using their squad more to play three Test matches on the bounce.\u201d<\/p>\n Scotland open away to Italy before hosting England and travelling to Wales in quick succession.<\/p>\n \u201cItaly away is a cracking start \u2014 what a venue and what a place to visit,\u201d Townsend said. \u201cThen you\u2019re straight into England at home and Wales away, so three games that come around really quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important we\u2019re cohesive, that we recover well between games and that we take what we learn into our performances.\u201d<\/p>\n Scotland squad for 2026 Six Nations<\/p>\n Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby), Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby), Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Dave Cherry (Vannes), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Craig (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors), Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Jonny Gray (Union Bordeaux B\u00e8gles), Nathan McBeth (Glasgow Warriors), Liam McConnell (Edinburgh Rugby), Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton Saints), D\u2019arcy Rae (Edinburgh Rugby), Jamie Ritchie (Perpignan), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), George Turner (Harlequins), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors)<\/p>\n Backs: Fergus Burke (Saracens), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Tom Jordan (Bristol Bears), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Bath Rugby), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors, captain), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby), Ben White (Toulon)<\/p>\n Scotland A squad<\/p>\n Forwards: Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby), Cameron Henderson (Leicester Tigers), Alec Hepburn (Scarlets), Gregor Hiddleston (Glasgow Warriors), Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers), Alexander Masibaka (Montpellier), Harri Morris (Edinburgh Rugby), Andy Onyeama-Christie (Saracens), James Whitcombe (Edinburgh Rugby)<\/p>\n Backs: Ben Afshar (Glasgow Warriors), Dan Lancaster (Glasgow Warriors), Harry Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby), Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby), Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), Gus Warr (Sale Sharks)<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? 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