SCOTLAND HEAD COACH Vern Cotter has named soon to be eligible South African duo Josh Strauss and WP Nel in his 46 man training squad for the Rugby World Cup.
Strauss has been one of the stars of Glasgow’s Pro12 winning team this season, while Nel has impressed at tihghthead prop for Edinburgh.
While the pair are not immediately available, they will become eligible under the residency rules before the tournament begins.
Cotter has also recalled Scarlets flanker John Barclay, who hasn’t played for Scotland since the defeat to South Africa in November 2013.
However, there is no place in the extended squad for Johnnie Beattie, Dougie Fife or Kelly Brown, with Beattie and Fife both part of Cotter’s side that finished bottom of this year’s Six Nations.
34 of the squad are based in Scotland, with 22 players representing Pro12 winners Glasgow, while 12 Edinburgh players have been selected.
Scotland face warm-up games against Ireland, France and two against Italy, before their World Cup opener against Japan on September 23.
Backs: Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Cusiter (Sale Sharks), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh Rugby), Rory Hughes (Glasgow Warriors), Ruaridh Jackson (Wasps), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (London Irish), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Tim Visser (Harlequins), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors).
Forwards: Adam Ashe (Glasgow Warriors), John Barclay (Scarlets), Hugh Blake (Glasgow Warriors), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Cowan (London Irish), Mike Cusack (Glasgow Warriors), Allan Dell (Edinburgh Rugby), David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby), Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby), Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Saracens), Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby), Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby), Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Jon Welsh (Newcastle Falcons), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors).
