The China Mail - Scotland recall Jonny Gray for Six Nations

The 30-year-old lock won the last of his 77 Scotland caps at home to Italy in March 2023.

Gray, who missed the 2023 World Cup with a knee injury, declined a call-up for the November international series after returning to action at the start of this season with French club Bordeaux-Begles.

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend expressed his "disappointment" with that decision at the time but has still brought the experienced Gray back into a 37-strong squad for the Championship.

Edinburgh hooker Dave Cherry, 34, has been recalled for the first time by Scotland since a freak accident cut short his involvement at the 2023 World Cup in France.

Cherry made an early exit from the tournament after suffering a concussion when falling on stairs on a day off at the team hotel in Nice the day after he came on as a replacement in Scotland's opening pool-stage loss to champions South Africa.

Glasgow centre Sione Tuipulotu, who scored a try against his native Australia during a 27-13 win over the Wallabies at Murrayfield in November, continues as Scotland captain.

But his Warriors team-mate Kyle Steyn has not been included in the squad after the wing suffered a knee injury.

Meanwhile, Glasgow back-row Jack Mann and New Zealand-born Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke -- who has a Scottish grandfather -- are the only two uncapped players in the squad.

Scotland, who finished fourth in last year's Six Nations, begin their 2025 campaign at home to Italy on February 1.

Squad

Backs (15): Fergus Burke, Matt Currie, Jamie Dobie, Darcy Graham, George Horne, Rory Hutchinson, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Blair Kinghorn, Stafford McDowall, Finn Russell, Kyle Rowe, Sione Tuipulotu (capt), Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White

Forwards (22): Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Bhatti, Gregor Brown, Dave Cherry, Luke Crosbie, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Patrick Harrison, Will Hurd, Jack Mann, D'Arcy Rae, Dylan Richardson, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Rory Sutherland, Marshall Sykes

Coach: Gregor Townsend (SCO)

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