Harlequins stand-off James Lang is the surprise selection among six uncapped players for Scotland’s three-test summer tour of North and South America announced today.
Edinburgh’s Stuart McInally will captain the squad with several experienced figures being given the summer off. John Barclay, Greig Laidlaw, Finn Russell, Jonny Gray and Ryan Wilson are all excused duty after heavy schedules over the last 12 months.
Hamish Watson was already missing the tour due to recovery from a shoulder operation, while Huw Jones has wrist surgery scheduled. WP Nel and John Hardie are also not included to rest injury issues.
In their place there are recalls for Duncan Taylor, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Allan Dell and first inclusions for young Glasgow half backs George Horne and Adam Hastings, Warriors back rower Matt Fagerson, Edinburgh flankers Jamie Ritchie and Lewis Carmichael as well as Lang.
The 23-year-old Middlesex-born player represented Scotland Under-18 and Welsh students and is finishing his second pro season at Quins, where he began his rugby career in the juniors before moving to play club rugby in North Wales.
He played 15 times for the Aviva Premiership side this season, scoring three tries.
He and Hastings are the two outright 10s selected although it’s likely Townsend will utilise the experienced Pete Horne as the main back up to the absent Russell.
Scotland will play Canada in Edmonton on June 9, the USA in Houston on June 16 and finally Argentina in Restencia on the weekend of June 22.
Forwards: Simon Berghan (Edinburgh Rugby), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Lewis Carmichael (Edinburgh Rugby), Allan Dell (Edinburgh Rugby), David Denton (Worcester Warriors), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) , Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Richie Gray (Toulouse, Luke Hamilton (Leicester Tigers), Murray McCallum (Edinburgh Rugby) Stuart McInally (captain, Edinburgh Rugby), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby).
Backs: Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Lee Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby), James Lang (Harlequins), Byron McGuigan (Sale Sharks), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens).