Jonny Gray © Getty Images
Jonny Gray was recalled to the Scotland squad for the Six Nations on Wednesday, almost two years since the second row’s most recent test appearance.
The 30-year-old lock won the last of his 77 Scotland caps at home to Italy in March 2023.
Gray, who missed the 2023 World Cup with a knee injury, declined a call-up for the November international series after returning to action at the start of this season with French club Bordeaux-Begles.
Scotland coach Gregor Townsend expressed his “disappointment” with that decision at the time.
But he has still brought the experienced Gray back into a 37-strong squad for the Six Nations, with Scotland – who finished fourth last year – launching their 2025 campaign at home to Italy on February 1.
“Jonny obviously rested in the November period, had a couple of games and then injured another part of his body (ankle), which means that he’s got some work to do just ahead of the Italy game,” Townsend told reporters.
“But he did play really well leading up to November, he was in excellent form. There was a reason why Bordeaux wanted to rest him and that was because he’d played so many games for Bordeaux, who are the leading team in France right now.”
He added: “Having his experience, having his ability and his personality back in the group is something we’re looking forward to seeing again.”
Glasgow centre Sione Tuipulotu, who scored a try against his native Australia during a 27-13 win over the Wallabies at Murrayfield in November, continues as Scotland captain.
But his Warriors teammate Kyle Steyn has not been included in the squad after the wing suffered a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Glasgow back-row Jack Mann and New Zealand-born Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke – who has a Scottish grandfather – are the only two uncapped players in the squad.
Burke, 25, moved from Canterbury to London last year and he will now compete for the No 10 shirt with Finn Russell and Tom Jordan.
“I chatted to Fergus before he signed for Saracens,” said Townsend, himself a former Scotland playmaker.
“We’ve known about his Scottish heritage for two or three years now. He was in consideration in November, but we didn’t feel his game at that time got him into our squad.
“He’s playing better and better the more he plays. There is an opening in our squad with Adam (Hastings) getting injured too, so we feel it was the right time for him.”
Squad
Backs (15): Fergus Burke, Matt Currie, Jamie Dobie, Darcy Graham, George Horne, Rory Hutchinson, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Blair Kinghorn, Stafford McDowall, Finn Russell, Kyle Rowe, Sione Tuipulotu (capt), Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White
Forwards (22): Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Bhatti, Gregor Brown, Dave Cherry, Luke Crosbie, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Patrick Harrison, Will Hurd, Jack Mann, D’Arcy Rae, Dylan Richardson, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Rory Sutherland, Marshall Sykes
Coach: Gregor Townsend (SCO)
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