Scotland’s head coach has stuck largely with his experienced core for the autumn matches, adding only one uncapped player, as he looks ahead to the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
Gregor Townsend has named a 37-man squad for the autumn leg of the Nations Championship, with the 2027 Rugby World Cup in mind. He has resisted calling up many young players and has backed the experienced group that beat England, France and Wales in this year’s Six Nations. The only real surprise is a call-up for the uncapped Newcastle Red Bulls back-row Ollie Leatherbarrow. Scotland host New Zealand, Australia and Japan at Murrayfield next month, then travel to Twickenham for “Finals Weekend”.
A World Cup in sight
A year from now, Townsend hopes Scotland will still be involved in the knockout stages in Australia. They have been conspicuous by their absence from that stage in the last two tournaments, and have not got past the pool phase since 2015, when Vern Cotter was in charge. The tournament is expanding from 20 to 24 teams and adds a round of 16, so failing to get out of the group in 2027 is almost unthinkable. The real test is whether Scotland can go beyond the round of 16.
Townsend said the summer tour was the first he could remember on which he was not bringing players to develop. “It was playing Argentina away, playing South Africa away. You were picking your strongest squad,” he said. “We want our strongest squad now competing for positions going into the New Zealand game, the Australia game, and also putting their hands up for the World Cup.”
He added: “We’ve done a lot of increasing the depth and having those tours where we see different players. We tend [in the past] to have had a fourth game in the November series where it’s not been a top-ten team. That’s all changed now. It’s quality sides. We now have to build on the cohesion that the guys are showing so we can go to the World Cup with a settled squad.”
He continued: “That doesn’t exclude players, because you see Ollie [Leatherbarrow] coming into the squad, but it’s probably going to be harder for inexperienced players coming in if these guys are fit and playing well.”
Scotland are second in the northern standings, behind France, after wins over Argentina and Fiji and a defeat by South Africa. The Springboks lead the southern standings, ahead of the All Blacks and the Wallabies. The Finals Weekend opponent will be the southern hemisphere side in the equivalent position.
Who is in and out
Huw Jones and Blair Kinghorn return. They were absent in the summer through injury and for rest reasons respectively. There is no place for Edinburgh youngsters Hector Patterson and Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, or for Newcastle’s Jake Dalziel. The source says their “time will come”.
Mr Leatherbarrow, 24, has been chosen ahead of Edinburgh number eight Magnus Bradbury. According to The Scotsman, as set out in the research notes, he has started only one match for Newcastle this season and made six substitute appearances. Bradbury has started all five of Edinburgh’s. Townsend said Leatherbarrow’s ability to play openside, blindside and number eight is valuable, praised his ball-carrying and suggested he could challenge for a Six Nations place. Born in Macclesfield, he qualifies through his grandmother from Perth and has played for Scotland at Under-16 and Under-20 level.
Jack Dempsey will miss the 2027 Six Nations after leaving Glasgow Warriors for Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus, Townsend confirmed. He remains in the November squad. That is a reason Leatherbarrow was picked, as Townsend wants to look at another versatile back-row before next year.
Grant Gilchrist, 36, has missed out after returning from a biceps injury. Townsend described it as a close decision and not a sign that his international career is over, and said he could return if he keeps performing for Edinburgh. Scotland have named five second-rows: Scott Cummings, Gregor Brown, Alex Craig, Jonny Gray and Max Williamson.
Duhan van der Merwe is selected despite playing only 18 minutes for Edinburgh this season. He left the field with a hand injury on his return against the Lions on Friday, but Townsend indicated it was less serious than feared. He could play against Benetton this weekend.
Josh McKay, the New Zealand-born Glasgow full-back, is expected to qualify through residency before the Japan match on 21 November. He is not in the squad, but Townsend said he is keen to play for Scotland, and he could be added depending on injuries and form.
Leatherbarrow and the Red Bull link
According to The Scotsman, Townsend also works as a coaching and strategic consultant for Red Bull, whose rugby interests include Newcastle. Leatherbarrow was asked whether this helped his selection. He said Townsend has little direct involvement with Newcastle’s players and that he sees him about once a month. Scotland’s coaches held a video meeting with him on Wednesday 21 October to discuss his performances, and told him of the selection then. He credited the former Scotland and Lions player Chris Harris with showing that players can earn recognition later in their careers. These comments do not establish every factor behind the decision.
Edinburgh and Glasgow
Edinburgh top the United Rugby Championship after winning their first four games, but have only five players in the squad, against 19 from Glasgow. The five are Ewan Ashman, Pierre Schoeman, Liam McConnell, Darcy Graham and van der Merwe. Freddy Douglas, Bradbury, Patterson, Blyth-Lafferty and Gilchrist are among those left out. Club standings do not determine selection.
Sione Tuipulotu keeps the captaincy, having led Scotland in 15 of his 41 appearances. Finn Russell has 95 caps, five short of 100. Graham returns with 57 caps after a biceps injury. Seb Stephen, who made his debut against Fiji in July, and McConnell, who debuted against the United States in November 2025, keep their places.
The fixtures
All three home matches are at Murrayfield:
| Date | Opponent | UK kick-off |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 7 November | New Zealand | 2.10pm |
| Sunday 15 November | Australia | 3.10pm |
| Saturday 21 November | Japan | 2.10pm |
Finals Weekend is on 28 and 29 November, with the opponent and time to be confirmed. No starting XV for New Zealand has been named, and Leatherbarrow’s debut date is not confirmed.
