In an exciting turn of events for Scottish rugby, head coach Gregor Townsend has made a strategic decision to reinstate two seasoned players to strengthen his squad ahead of the upcoming Six Nations. The experienced duo includes 35-year-old hooker Dave Cherry, currently playing for Vannes, and 31-year-old lock Jonny Gray, who is with Union Bordeaux Bègles. Their inclusion in the 40-man training squad aims to inject some much-needed experience as preparations commence next week for the 2026 Six Nations tournament.
However, this announcement also brings some surprises, particularly the absence of Andy Onyeama-Christie, a back-row player from Saracens, as well as Glasgow Warriors' Alex Samuel and Arron Reed, a winger from Sale Sharks. Notably, several other players were considered for selection, including Glasgow's Gregor Hiddleston, Bath's Cam Redpath, Leicester Tigers' Cam Henderson, and promising young tight-head Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, but they did not make the final roster.
Interestingly, all players except for Samuel have been included in the Scotland ‘A’ squad, which is set to face an Italy XV just a day before the senior team kicks off their campaign on February 6 at 6:30 PM.
This tactical choice not only reflects Townsend's strategy but also raises questions about the future roles of newer players and how the blend of experience and youth will shape Scotland's performance in the tournament. Did Townsend make the right call by focusing on seasoned players, or should he have given more opportunities to emerging talent? We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments!
