Scotland announce extended 41-player Rugby World Cup training squad ahead of the tournament kicking off in France in September; squad will ultimately be cut down to 33 players; Edinburgh back-row Jamie Ritchie named captain; head coach Gregor Townsend has also signed new contract
Last Updated: 09/05/23 2:00pm
Captain Jamie Ritchie, head coach Gregor Townsend and playmaker Finn Russell will be looking to leave a mark at the World Cup in France this September
Gregor Townsend has named an extended 41-player Scotland Rugby World Cup training squad, captained by Edinburgh back-row Jamie Ritchie.
The squad will be trimmed down to 33 players ahead of the World Cup in France, which begins in September, with Scotland taking on South Africa, Ireland, Tonga and Romania in a tough Pool B.
Townsend, fresh from signing a new three-year contract to 2026 on Tuesday, named only two uncapped players in the panel, in the shape of Leicester Tigers second-row Cameron Henderson and Glasgow Warriors centre Stafford McDowall.
Exeter Chiefs second row Jonny Gray has not been included after suffering a knee injury recently, while Fraser Brown and Mark Bennett are among the most notable absentees.
Ritchie captains a 41-player extended Scotland Rugby World Cup training squad
Glasgow flanker Rory Darge and Edinburgh wing Darcy Graham return to the fold after injury, for their first Test involvements of 2023.
Townsend signed a new contract to remain as Scotland head coac …