Tuesday 19 January 2016 16:57, UK
Props Zander Fagerson and Rory Sutherland are the surprise names in Vern Cotter's 35-man Scotland squad for the Six Nations.
Glasgow Warriors tighthead Fagerson turns 20 on Wednesday, and if he plays any part will become the fourth youngest prop in Scotland's history and the youngest in 68 years.
Sutherland, 23, wins his first call-up in his first season with Edinburgh since he joined them from Gala. Fellow front-row men Moray Low of Exeter and Glasgow's Pat McArthur are recalled to the squad after an 18-month absence.
Scarlets back-row star John Barclay, a surprise omission from the World Cup squad, is recalled along with centres Alex Dunbar (Glasgow) and Duncan Taylor (Saracens) who missed last year's internationals because of injuries.
However, there is no place for Glasgow's Ryan Wilson, who faces a potentially lengthy ban after being cited for allegedly grabbing the testicles of Northampton's scrum-half Lee Dickson. Cotter confirmed however that he was left out on form, and not because of the citing.
Cotter, who led the Scots to the World Cup quarter-finals, where they suffered a heartbreaking and controversial last-minute defeat to Australia, said: "We've selected a mixture of experience with some exciting young players coming through, some of whom have experienced the Rugby World Cup and are eager to move forward, take the Six Nations head on and show that we can develop our game and be competitive.
There are positive signs that we can compete, and this Championship will give us another opportunity to measure ourselves against very good opposition in a tough competition.
"I think there should be confidence. The guys have worked hard and improved. There are positive signs that we can compete, and this Championship will give us another opportunity to measure ourselves against very good opposition in a tough competition.
"The guys believe that we can compete, dominate and secure victories in these games."
Fraser Brown, Grant Gilchrist, Henry Pyrgos, Jon Welsh and Richie Vernon - who were all in the World Cup squad - miss out through injury.
Lock Gilchrist (Edinburgh) and scrum-half Pyrgos (Glasgow) have been invited to train with the squad when it convenes for a pre-Championship camp in St Andrews this Sunday, before returning to their clubs to continue their recovery from groin and wrist injuries respectively.
Scotland, who will once again be captained by Gloucester scrum-half Greig Laidlaw, open their campaign against England on Saturday, February 6 at Murrayfield.
Forwards: Ross Ford, Pat MacArthur, Stuart McInally, Alasdair Dickinson, Zander Fagerson, Moray Low, Willem Nel, Gordon Reid, Rory Sutherland, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Tim Swinson, Ben Toolis, Adam Ashe, John Barclay, Blair Cowan, David Denton, Chris Fusaro, John Hardie, Josh Strauss.
Backs: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Greig Laidlaw, Finn Russell, Duncan Weir, Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Peter Horne, Matt Scott, Duncan Taylor, Sean Lamont. Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Tim Visser, Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson.
