Scotland have turned to PROD2 player Alexander Masibaka as Gregor Townsend has been forced to add five further faces to the squad as they battle a growing injury list.
The latest casualty to join a lengthy list for Scotland was Bath back-row Josh Bayliss, who was injured in their win at Sale Sharks in the Gallagher Premiership on Sunday.
That means Townsend is now without several players who would have likely featured in their matchday squad for their opener against Italy on Saturday.
Sione Tuipulotu, Dylan Richardson, Scott Cummings and now Bayliss are all sidelined while Kyle Steyn, Adam Hastings, Max Williamson, Andy Onyeama-Christie and Ben Muncaster were all absent when Townsend named their original squad.
Jonny Gray continues to be an injury doubt, having last played in December.
Masibaka, 23, plays for Soyaux-Angoulême on loan from Montpellier and can play across the back-row. He was born in Australia but qualifies for Scotland through his Paisley-born mother.
Alongside Masibaka, Euan Ferrie, Cameron Henderson, Ewan Johnson and Ollie Smith have all received call ups.
Ferrie plays for Glasgow Warriors and has trained with the national side before, while Leicester Tigers' Henderson made his international debut in 2023 against Italy before sustaining a knee injury at the end of the year.
Oyonnax lock Johnson made his debut on Scotland's summer tour last year and nine-cap Smith returned from injury for Glasgow Warriors this past weekend and gets an immediate call-up.
Updated Scotland squad:
Forwards: Ewan Ashman, Jamie Bhatti, Gregor Brown, Dave Cherry, Luke Crosbie, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Euan Ferrie, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Cameron Henderson, Patrick Harrison, Will Hurd, Ewan Johnson, Jack Mann, Alexander Masibaka, D'Arcy Rae, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Rory Sutherland, Marshall Syke
Backs: Fergus Burke, Matt Currie, Jamie Dobie, Darcy Graham, George Horne, Rory Hutchinson, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Blair Kinghorn, Stafford McDowall, Finn Russell, Arron Reed, Kyle Rowe, Duhan van der Merwe, Ollie Smith, Ben White.
Further Reading
- Six Nations: Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong to miss England game
- Six Nations and Women's Six Nations: Full fixture list
- Six Nations: Wales' Warren Gatland open to Louis Rees-Zammit return