Scotland announce training squad for Rugby World Cup 2023

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - MARCH 12: Scotland Captain Jamie Ritchie during a Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at BT Murrayfield, on March 12, 2023, in Edinburgh,Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

The group will be led by captain Jamie Ritchie and will be trimmed to the requisite 33-player list ahead of the tournament itself, which gets underway in France in September.

Of the 23 forwards selected by Townsend, flanker Rory Darge returns to the international set-up having missed the Guinness Six Nations through injury, with winger Darcy Graham also returning as one of 18 backs named, again having been unavailable through injury since the turn of the year.

A consistency of selection means that there are only two uncapped players in the training squad: second row Cameron Henderson and centre Stafford McDowall.

There is plenty of experience with four players – WP Nel, Grant Gilchrist, Finn Russell and recent cap centurion Stuart Hogg – aiming to represent Scotland at a third Rugby World Cup (all featured in 2015 and 2019).

Overall, there are 17 players from Glasgow Warriors, 15 from Edinburgh Rugby and nine who ply their trade outside of Scotland.

The 41-player group will gather for an initial training camp on 29 May to begin preparations for warm-up matches in the Famous Grouse Nations Series against France, Italy and Georgia at BT Murrayfield in July and August. Scotland also play France in an away warm-up in St. Etienne in August.

The Rugby World Cup itself will see Scotland compete in Pool B alongside South Africa, Ireland, Tonga and Romania, with a first fixture against the world champion Springboks on Sunday 10 September in Marseille.

Scotland are back in action when they face Italy, France and Georgia in The Famous Grouse Nations Series at BT Murrayfield this July and August.

Tickets from £10 for adults and £5 for Seniors & U18s. Children Under-12 go free to all games with an adult ticket (booking fees apply).

Match tickets and packages are available HERE