Six Nations: Scotland include Fergus Burke in Saracens squad as Jonny Gray returns from injury | Rugby Union News
Scotland have called up uncapped Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke in their Six Nations squad.
On Wednesday, head coach Gregor Townsend announced an expanded 37-man squad to assemble ahead of the tournament opener at home to Italy on February 1.
New Zealand-born Burke, also eligible to represent the All Blacks or England, has impressed since joining Saracens from the Crusaders last year.
Glasgow striker Jack Mann is the only other uncapped player to be selected, while there are notable recalls for Jonny Gray and Dave Cherry.
Glasgow captain Kyle Steyn is the most notable absence from Townsend’s squad after picking up an injury in recent days.
Burke qualified to play for Scotland through the lineage of his Glasgow-born grandfather, but was also able to play for England thanks to his mother.
The 25-year-old will be competition for Scotland star Finn Russell, with Tom Jordan the second option at No.10.
Back-rower Mann, also 25, has recently been playing number eight for Glasgow, while Jack Dempsey has been injured, although the latter is fit again and included in the Scotland squad despite not playing a game since the defeat to South Africa in November.
Gray’s involvement draws attention as 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 second rower, who missed the 2023 World Championships with a knee injury, appeared to have burned his bridges under Townsend when the head coach expressed his “disappointment” in October that he turned down an autumn call-up. series after returning to action with Bordeaux at the start of this season.
Another player handed a surprise recall for the upcoming championships is 34-year-old Cherry, who has not been involved in any squad since leaving the 2023 World Cup early after suffering concussion in a fall down the stairs on his day off at the team hotel in Not even a day after coming on as a substitute in the first game against South Africa.
Sione Tuipulotu, who was given the captaincy for the autumn series, continues as captain, with Russell and Rory Darge appointed as vice-captains.
Scottish national team
Forward: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Gregor Brown (Glasgow), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Scott Cummings (Glasgow), Rory Darge (Glasgow), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), Will Hurd (Leicester), Jack Mann (Glasgow), D’Arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Dylan Richardson (Sharks), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh).
Back: Fergus Burke (Saracens), Matt Currie (Edinburgh), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), George Horne (Glasgow), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Tom Jordan (Glasgow), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow), Finn Russell (Bath), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (Toulon).
Six Nations 2025 fixtures: Scotland
- February 1: Italy (h)
- February 9: Ireland (h)
- February 22: Engand (a)
- March 8: Wales (h)
- March 15: France (and)
