Chiefs duo in Scotland squad

By Mark Stevens
17/1/23

Exeter Chiefs duo Jonny Gray and Stuart Hogg have been named in Scotland's 39-man squad for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations Championship.

In a squad headed up by captain Jamie Ritchie, who led Scotland in all four of the 2022 Autumn Nations Series fixtures, there are returns for experienced players such as Saracens’ Sean Maitland and Glasgow Warriors centre Huw Jones.

Both Gray and Hogg are among 10 players who have earned at least 50 Scotland caps, with full-back Hogg, on 96 appearances for his country, approaching a landmark figure on the eve of the championship.

Elsewhere, Bath wing Ruaridh McConnochie, Glasgow centre Stafford McDowall and stand-off Ben Healy, plus Leicester Tigers’ second row Cameron Henderson are also in contention for full international honours.

McConnochie, who won two caps for England in 2019, is now eligible to be selected due to World Rugby’s eligibility rules allowing a capped player to switch allegiance to another country they are eligible to play for following a three-year cooling off period.

Healy, who will move to Edinburgh ahead of the 2023/24 season, qualifies through his maternal grandparents, having represented Ireland at under-20 level.

Second-row Henderson joined Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2020/21 season, having previously been a part of both the FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy and Stirling County’s FOSROC Super6 squad. He was selected for the ultimately cancelled 2021 summer squad for matches with England A, Romania and Georgia.

McDowall has been in great form for Glasgow Warriors this season and recently captained the club for their away win against Perpignan in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

SCOTLAND SQUAD FOR THE SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP

FORWARDS

Ewan Ashman (Sale Sharks) 6 caps
Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby) 3 caps
Simon Berghan (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 25 caps
Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) 57 caps
Dave Cherry (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
Andy Christie (Saracens) 4 caps
Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps
Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps
Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 28 caps
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 54 caps
Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) 59 caps
Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) 72 caps
Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 69 caps
Cameron Henderson (Leicester Tigers) uncapped
WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 50 caps
Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby, capt) – 36 caps
Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 16 caps
Javan Sebastian (Scarlets) 3 caps
Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby) 23 caps
Rory Sutherland (Ulster Rugby) 22 caps
George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) 29 caps
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) 54 caps

BACKS

Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby) 39 caps
Ben Healy (Munster Rugby) uncapped
Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) 96 caps
George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 18 caps
Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 38 caps
Sean Maitland (Saracens) 53 caps
Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby) uncapped
Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped
Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) 58 caps
Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby) 4 caps
Finn Russell (Racing 92) 65 caps
Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) 2 caps
Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps
Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 11 caps
Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 23 caps
Ben White (London Irish) 9 caps

2023 Guinness Six Nations Fixtures

England v Scotland, Saturday 4 February, kick-off 4.45pm, Twickenham

Scotland v Wales, Saturday 11 February, kick-off 4.45pm, BT Murrayfield

France v Scotland, Sunday 26 February, kick-off 3pm, Stade de France

Scotland v Ireland, Sunday 12 March, kick-off 3pm, BT Murrayfield

Scotland v Italy, Saturday 19 March, kick-off 12.30pm, BT Murrayfield