Jack Dempsey has been named in the Scotland squad for this summer’s Nations Championship matches despite his impending move to Japan.
Toulouse back Blair Kinghorn and Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist are both rested, and there is no place for Huw Jones and Jamie Ritchie – both of whom have been struggling with injuries – but most of Gregor Townsend’s other senior players have been included in a 36-man selection.
Glasgow hookers Seb Stephen and Gregor Hiddleston are the two uncapped players called up for matches against South Africa, Argentina and Fiji next month.
There had been doubts over whether Dempsey would retain his place as he is leaving Glasgow to join Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo for next season.
Playing in Japan has previously proved problematic for those wishing to continue their international career due to a clash in the calendar, with George Turner and Richie Gray recent examples of players not called up by Townsend while playing in the Far East.
However, influential back-rower Dempsey has been selected for this summer’s matches.
There is hope that the 32-year-old will also be available for the November Nations Championship matches but it remains to be seen if he will be able to feature in next year’s Six Nations.
While there is a general sense of familiarity about the squad named on Tuesday morning, the selections at hooker are most notable, with the established Ewan Ashman joined by Test rookies Stephen, 20, and Hiddleston, 24.
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) June 9, 2026
Scotland Squad for Summer Internationals
Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby), Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby), Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors), Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Jonny Gray (Perpignan), Gregor Hiddleston (Glasgow Warriors), Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers), Nathan McBeth (Glasgow Warriors), Liam McConnell (Edinburgh Rugby), Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton Saints), D’arcy Rae (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Samuel (Glasgow Warriors), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), Seb Stephen (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors)
Backs: Fergus Burke (Saracens), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), Tom Jordan (Bristol Bears), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Bath Rugby), Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby), Ben White (Toulon)