Autumn Nations Series | Scotland Rugby World Cup squad: Ritchie captain and McInally cut

by Ben Hart

Jamie Ritchie will lead Scotland at a Rugby World Cup for the first time after Gregor Townsend confirmed his 33-man squad.

Flanker Ritchie, who first captained Scotland during the 2022 Autumn Nations Series, leads an experienced squad which includes 15 players to have appeared at a previous World Cup.

There is no place for hooker Stuart McInally, who led his country four years ago in Japan, and he is now set to retire after his omission, pursuing a career as a commercial airline pilot.

Fly-half Finn Russell and second rows Richie Gray and Grant Gilchrist all are set for a third successive tournament, while back-row Jack Dempsey who represented Australia in the 2019 tournament, is included.

“There’s real competition in the squad. Players are delighted to have made the 33, but they all want to be in that starting team.”

Head Coach Gregor Townsend talks through his selection for Rugby World Cup 2023.#AsOne pic.twitter.com/0Nu3YsvXJ2

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) August 16, 2023

Full-back Ollie Smith is the youngest in the squad having recently turned 23, while the evergreen WP Nel is the eldest at 37 years old.

The unlucky four to miss out from Townsend’s training squad are McInally, Murphy Walker, Josh Bayliss and Jamie Dobie.

Alongside Smith, those preparing for their Rugby World Cup debut are stand-off Ben Healy, forwards Ewan Ashman, Dave Cherry (both hooker), Jamie Bhatti, Pierre Schoeman, Rory Sutherland (all loosehead prop), Javan Sebastian (tighthead prop), Sam Skinner (second row) and back-row trio Luke Crosbie, Rory Darge and Matt Fagerson.

Scrum-half Ben White, centres Huw Jones, Cameron Redpath and Sione Tuipulotu, and wingers Duhan van der Merwe and Kyle Steyn complete the selection.

Scotland conclude their preparations against Georgia on 26th August in their fourth and final Summer Nations Series fixture.

They then begin their World Cup campaign against South Africa, before games against Tonga, Romania and Guinness Six Nations rivals Ireland.

Take it away, Mr Butler 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿#AsOne | @rugbyworldcup | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/WdM7TUDsAh

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) August 16, 2023

SCOTLAND SQUAD FOR RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023

Forwards

Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
Dave Cherry (Edinburgh Rugby) 9 caps
Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby) 5 caps
Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 28 caps
Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors) 10 caps
Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 11 caps
Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 35 caps
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 59 caps
Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) 64 caps
Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 75 caps
WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 55 caps
Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) – CAPTAIN – 42 caps
Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 23 caps
Javan Sebastian (Edinburgh Rugby) 5 caps
Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby) 27 caps
Rory Sutherland (Unattached) 25 caps
George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) 37 caps
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) 58 caps

Backs

Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby) 35 caps
Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby) 43 caps
Ben Healy (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps
George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 22 caps
Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 38 caps
Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 46 caps
Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) 63 caps
Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby) 7 caps
Finn Russell (Bath Rugby) 71 caps
Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps
Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 12 caps
Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 18 caps
Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 30 caps
Ben White (RC Toulon) 15 caps