Six Nations: Scotland include surrendered fly-half Fergus Burke in squad as Jonny Gray returns from injury | Rugby Union News - ORSOLTECH

Scotland have recalled unofficial fly-half Fergus Burke to their Six Nations squad.

Coach Gregor Townsend on Wednesday announced an expanded 37-player squad that will be assembled ahead of the tournament's opening match at home to Italy on February 1.

New Zealand-born Burke was also eligible to represent the All Blacks or England and has impressed since joining Saracens from the Crusaders last year.

Glasgow striker Jack Mann is the only other player not selected, while there are notable call-ups for Jonny Gray and Dave Cherry.

Glasgow captain Kyle Stein is the most notable absentee from Townsend's squad after suffering an injury in recent days.

Burke is eligible to play for Scotland through his Glasgow-born grandfather's lineage, but would also have played for England thanks to his mother.

The 25-year-old will compete with Scottish star Finn Russell, while Tom Jordan will be the other option at number 10.

Back-rower Mann, also 25, has been playing at number eight for Glasgow recently while Jack Dempsey has been injured, although the latter is fit again and has been included in the Scotland squad despite not playing a game since the defeat to South Africa in November.

Gray's inclusion is notable because he won the last of his 77 caps almost two years ago, in a Six Nations match at home to Italy in March 2023.

The 30-year-old, who missed the 2023 World Cup with a knee injury, appeared to have burned his bridges under Townsend when the head coach expressed his “disappointment” in October that he declined to call him up for the fall. After returning to the field with Bordeaux at the beginning of the current season.

Another player made a surprise call-up for the upcoming tournament is 34-year-old Chery, who has not been included in any squad since making an early exit from the 2023 World Cup after suffering concussion when falling down the stairs on a day off at the team hotel in Nice the following day. For his entry as a substitute in the opening match of the pool stage against South Africa.

Sione Topoluto, who was handed the captaincy for the autumn series, continues as captain, with Russell and Rory Darge appointed as vice-captains.

Scotland band

Attackers: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Jimmy Bhatti (Glasgow), Gregor Brown (Glasgow), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Luke Crosby (Edinburgh), Scott Cummings (Glasgow), Rory Darge (Glasgow), Jack Dempsey . (Glasgow), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Xander Fagerson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), Will Herd (Leicester City), Jack Mann (Glasgow), Darcy Ray ( Edinburgh), Dylan Richardson (Sharks), Jimmy Ritchie (Edinburgh), Pierre Schumann. (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh).

Their backs: Fergus Burke (Muslims), Matt Currie (Edinburgh), Jimmy Dobie (Glasgow), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), George Horne (Glasgow), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton), Hugh Jones (Glasgow), Tom Jordan (Glasgow), Blair Kinghorn . (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow), Finn Russell (Bath), Kyle Rowe. (Glasgow), Sione Topoluto (Glasgow), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (Toulon).