Edinburgh’s prolific try-scorer Dougie Fife is the new face in Scott Johnson’s Scotland squad for the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations Championship.
Fife (23), with five tries in the last seven games for the capital club, is one of two uncapped players in the squad of 36 alongside the former Howe of Fife open-side flanker Chris Fusaro, who has been involved with international squads before but has yet to be selected.
There are few surprises in the squad but no place for two other open-side candidates, Edinburgh’s in-form Roddy Grant and the experienced John Barclay, now with the Scarlets.
Grant is omitted but Ross Rennie, who he is presently keeping out of the Edinburgh side, is selected in the squad.
Both Jonny Gray and Matt Scott, who have been out injured since the November internationals, are included in the squad.
The squad will gather for a training camp next week at Heriot-Watt University. Scotland’s opening 6 Nations match is in Dublin against Ireland on February 2.
Forwards – John Beattie, Kelly Brown, Geoff Cross, David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, Chris Fusaro, Grant Gilchrist, Ryan Grant, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Jim Hamilton, Ron Harley, Scott Lawson, Kieran Low, Moray Low, Pat MacArthur, Ross Rennie, Alasdair Strokosch, Tim Swinson, Ryan Wilson.
Backs – Chris Cusiter, Nick De Luca, Alex Dunbar, Max Evans, Dougie Fife, Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Lamont, Greig Laidlaw, Sean Maitland, Matt Scott, Tommy Seymour, Duncan Taylor, Greig Tonks, Duncan Weir.