Gray back in Scots fold

Gray: International

Related links

Teams

• Scotland

Also see

• Sky Sports experts
• Rugby on Sky
• Live scores

Scotland coach Frank Hadden has brought Northampton flanker Scott Gray into his squad for the autumn internationals, with uncapped duo Max Evans and Geoff Cross also earning places in the 31-man party.

Suspended forward Scott MacLeod has, as expected, been left out of the training squad for the autumn international programme including games against New Zealand, South Africa and Canada after it was revealed that he had failed a drugs test.

The Llanelli Scarlets lock has been banned from rugby whilst an investigation takes place and he was one of the 16 men cut from the 50-man training squad announced last month.

Hadden has handed Saints man Gray a return to the international fold four years after winning his only cap to date, with back-rowers Ross Rennie and David Callam both out injured.

Premiership

Gray is one of eight players from the Guinness Premiership to be included in the Scotland squad, with seven of the original ten players involved in the row with the SFU included.

Ulster's Simon Danielli (Ulster) and Fergus Thomson from Glasgow are also out through injury, while Glasgow skipper Alastair Kellock the biggest omission from the squad.

Warriors centre Evans joins younger brother Thom in the squad while Edinburgh prop Cross is the second uncapped player to be included by Hadden - for what is a hugely important series of matches.

The results from the games will determine Scotland's ranking for the draw for the 2011 World Cup, and Hadden knows just how important that could be.

"We know the huge importance of our November matches given the draw for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and at this stage I'm pleased at the competition we have for places," said Hadden.

"Twenty three of the squad were with us in Argentina during the summer, including Max Evans and Geoff Cross, and we've been impressed especially by the manner in which Max and Geoff have raised their game this season.

"We've also been watching Scott Gray closely at Northampton, where he's put in some great shifts at openside."

Rows

Scottish-based players will head to Spain for warm weather training on Monday and they will be joined by the rest of the squad on Thursday ahead of the game with the All Blacks on November 8.

However, yet more rows could be brewing as the Premiership-based players could be recalled to play in the EDF Energy Cup the weekend before the New Zealand game, while Welsh clubs say they will not release players for the training camp.

"This is the best route to maximise the limited time we have together for the matches against the All Blacks, Springboks and Canada," Hadden said in defence of the camp.

"Our training facilities on the back pitches at Murrayfield are currently being enhanced and are thus out of the equation, so we have identified the warm-weather camp in Spain as the ideal route."

After facing New Zealand on November 8, Scotland go on to play South Africa on November 15 and Canada on November 22.

Scotland squad:

Backs: Mike Blair (capt, Edinburgh), Ben Cairns (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Perpignan), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Max Evans, Thom Evans (Glasgow), Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Rory Lamont (Sale), Sean Lamont (Northampton), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow), Dan Parks (Glasgow), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh), Simon Webster (Edinburgh)

Forwards: John Barclay (Glasgow), Kelly Brown (Glasgow), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Scott Gray (Northampton), Dougie Hall (Glasgow), Jim Hamilton (Edinburgh), Nathan Hines (Perpignan), Allister Hogg (Edinburgh), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Northampton), Matt Mustchin (Edinburgh), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Simon Taylor (Stade Francais), Jason White (Sale).