Gregor Townsend makes six changes to Scotland squad taking on France at Murrayfield for Six Nations

Six players have been added to the Scotland squad to play France in this weekend’s Six Nations clash in Edinburgh.

Gregor Townsend brought in the reinforcements for the game at Murrayfield on Saturday after a string of players were forced to return to their clubs through injury.

James Lang, Ollie Smith, Oli Kebble, Simon Berghan, Kiran McDonald and Marshall Sykes have all joined the squad ahead of the France clash.

Meanwhile Rory Sutherland, Javan Sebastian, Jonny Gray, Scott Cummings and Cam Redpath have all dropped out.

Sutherland sustained a rib injury in the loss over Wales and is undergoing rehab, Gray will miss the match due to an ankle injury and Cummings has knee injury.

All five injured players will continue to be assessed in the coming weeks ahead of the remaining two games against Italy and Ireland.

Glasgow Warriors tighthead prop Berghan makes a return to squad to replace Sebastian in the front row alongside teammate Kebble who has 11 caps since making his Scotland debut in October 2020.

In the second-row, Edinburgh Rugby’s Sykes has been called up after making his Scotland debut in the Autumn Nations Series last year, coming off the bench against Tonga.

Joining him in the second-row options is uncapped Glasgow Warriors player Kiran McDonald who signed for the Scotstoun club in 2017.

Lang has also met up with the squad and will be looking to add to his six Scotland caps so far.

Fresh from his Man of the Match performance against Benetton for Glasgow Warriors on Saturday night, uncapped full-back Ollie Smith has also been called up.

Having been ruled out of the opening two Guinness Six Nations games through concussion, Josh Bayliss made an impressive return at the weekend, scoring a try for Bath in a defeat to Leicester Tigers, and he will be available for selection again.

Head coach Gregor Townsend said: “While it is disappointing to lose players to injury ahead of the France match, this is a great opportunity for the new players to impress and force their way into our match-day squad.

“The attritional nature of the Guinness Six Nations means there are often changes made to the squad throughout the championship and it is a challenge we are much better equipped to deal with given our current squad depth.”

“We wish those that have missed out through injury all the best in their rehabilitation, and we will continue to monitor their progress ahead of the final two games of the championship.”

The Scotland Squad in full:

Forwards:

Ewan Ashman – Sale Sharks – 2 caps

Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby – 2 caps

Simon Berghan – Glasgow Warriors – 31 caps

Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby – 16 caps

Andy Christie – Saracens – uncapped

Allan Dell – London Irish – 32 caps

Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors – 1 cap

Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors – 19 caps

Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors – 44 caps

Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby – 50 caps