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- Scotland head coach names his squad for summer tour on Wednesday
- Gregor Townsend set to go for youth but needs some experienced heads
- Scots will take on Canada, USA, Chile and Uruguay across four Tests in July
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is set to resist the temptation to rest stars Duhan van der Merwe and Sione Tuipulotu when he names his summer tour squad on Wednesday.
The pair are first-choice backs for Townsend when fit, but, after a long season which began this time last year ahead of the 2023 World Cup in France, both have played a lot of rugby in the last 12 months. Scotland’s four July fixtures are against Canada, USA, Chile and Uruguay.
Townsend is poised to name a youthful touring party for those matches but Mail Sport understands Van der Merwe and Tuipulotu will both be included to provide some much-needed experience.
Although it is unlikely they will play in all of the games in North and South America, their involvement is something of a surprise given Scotland’s opponents are not leading nations and that they may well have benefited from a summer break leading into the 2024/25 campaign.
In that regard, Townsend also has a big call to make on fly-half Finn Russell, who captained Scotland in the Six Nations and only returned for the business end of the Gallagher Premiership season with his club Bath after recovering from a groin injury.
Russell was part of the Bath side beaten by Northampton in last weekend’s Premiership final and it is understood that Scotland are leaning towards giving him the summer off.
Duhan van der Merwe and Sione Tuipulotu are set to tour with Scotland in the summer
Gregor Townsend needs some experience in what is set to be a youthful Scotland squad
As Mail Sport reported earlier this week, Sale scrum-half Gus Warr is poised for a Scotland debut this summer and will received a first senior call from Townsend.
Warr, born in Manchester and therefore eligible for England, has impressed in the Premiership with Sale. But he is now set to throw his lot in with Scotland at senior level after wearing a blue shirt in age-grade rugby.
Elsewhere, expect a host of new faces in Townsend’s party.
Young hookers Paddy Harrison and Gregor Hiddleston will sum up its youthful feel as Scotland look to the next generation with the 2027 World Cup in Australia in mind.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s first-choice hooker George Turner has signed for Japanese side Kobelco Kobe Steelers in a move which raises real doubts over his international future.
George Turner has confirmed his move to Japan, raising doubts over his Scotland career
Glasgow announced last month that the 31-year-old forward would be ending his seven-year stint at Scotstoun at the end of this season.
It was confirmed yesterday that Turner has agreed to join Kobe for the 2024-25 campaign, reuniting him with former Warriors head coach Dave Rennie who now holds the same role with the Japanese side.
There is nothing strictly preventing Turner from adding to his 45 caps, but the Japan Rugby League One schedule clashes directly with the Six Nations, placing his involvement in the tournament in obvious jeopardy.
Front-rower Turner, who has become a mainstay of Townsend’s starting XV, revealed that playing at the 2019 World Cup in Japan had fuelled his desire to move to the Far East.
‘I’m really looking forward to playing for the Kobe Steelers,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t pass up such a great opportunity to live and play in Japan.
‘I’ve always wanted to go back since the World Cup in 2019.
‘Kobe are a great team, and I can’t wait to add whatever I can to their success.
‘It’s a wonderful adventure for myself but also my family, who will gain so much from the experience. Japanese rugby is super exciting and I’m looking forward to taking on the challenge.’
Turner has the chance to leave Glasgow on a high if they can secure United Rugby Championship glory over the next two weekends, with Warriors facing Munster away in the play-off semi-final on Saturday.
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