Scotland have called up uncapped Saracens flyhalf Fergus Burke to their squad for the Six Nations.
Coach Gregor Townsend on Wednesday announced an expanded squad of 37 players ahead of the side’s home opener against Italy on February 1.
New Zealand-born Burke is eligible to represent the All Blacks or England and has impressed since joining Saracens from the Crusaders last year.
Glasgow forward Jack Mann is the only other unrestricted player selected, with notable recalls for Jonny Gray and Dave Cherry.
Unrestricted forward Jack Mann is in the 37-man squad.
Glasgow captain Kyle Steyn is the most notable absence from Townsend’s squad after picking up a recent injury.
Burke qualifies to play for Scotland through his Glasgow-born grandfather, but he is also able to play for England thanks to his mother.
The 25-year-old will compete against Scotland star Finn Russell, while Tom Jordan is nominated for number 10.
Likewise, 25-year-old back-rower Mann has been playing as a number 8 for Glasgow recently while Jack Dempsey is out injured. Jack Dempsey is fit again and included in the Scotland squad despite not having played a game since the loss to South Africa in November.
Gray’s inclusion is eye-catching as his last win in 77 matches came almost two years ago, at home against Italy in March 2023.
The 30-year-old second baseman, who missed the 2023 World Cup with a knee injury, appeared to have burned his bridges under Townsend when he expressed “disappointment” in October that the manager had denied him a call-up for the autumn. series following his return from Bordeaux earlier this season.
Jonny Gray was included, having not appeared on the international stage for almost two years.
Another player who has received a surprise recall for the upcoming championship is 34-year-old Cherry. He has not been included in a single squad since making an early exit from the 2023 World Cup after suffering a concussion after falling down the stairs on an off day. The team hotel in Nice, the day after coming on as a substitute in the opening pool stage match against South Africa.
Sione Tuipulotu, who captained the team for the autumn series, continues as captain while Russell and Rory Darge have been appointed vice-captains.
scotland national team
transmission: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Jamie Barty (Glasgow), Gregor Brown (Glasgow), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Luke Crosby (Edinburgh), Scott Cummings (Glasgow), Rory Dodge (Glasgow), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Xander Fagerson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), Will Heard (Leicester), Jack Mann (Glasgow), Darcy Ray (Edinburgh), Dylan Richardson (Sharks), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Pierre Schumann (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow) and Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh).
back: Fergus Burke (Saracens), Matt Currie (Edinburgh), Jamie Dovey (Glasgow), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), George Horn (Glasgow), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton), Hugh Jones (Glasgow), Tom Jordan (Glasgow) , Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowell (Glasgow), Finn Russell (Bath), Kyle Rowe. (Glasgow), Sion Tuipulotu (Glasgow), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (Toulon).
Six Nations 2025 fixtures: Scotland
- February 1: Italy (time)
- February 9: Ireland (h)
- February 22: Englishand (a)
- March 8: Wales (h)
- March 15: France (no way)
