"Former England Prop" - The Four Uncapped Scotland Players in Gregor Townsend's 2024 Six Nations Squad

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Townsend was the first of the four 'home nation' sides to name his squad, with the announcement coming earlier today. The bulk of the group is the core side that ran-out for Scotland throughout the 2023 Rugby World Cup. However, this will be the Scotland's first Six Nations since 2011 to not feature fullback talisman Stuart Hogg, as the former Glasgow and Exeter star hung up his boots ahead of the trip to France last Autumn.

As the Northern Hemisphere nations gear up for their first test matches of the 2027 Rugby World Cup cycle, this upcoming Six Nations is expected to have a 'new era' feel to it. Gregor Townsend was reported to be interested in three potential England talents for the tournament, yet did not name the Sale Sharks duo of Tom Roebuck and Gus Warr in his squad. Despite the missed opportunities from the AJ Bell, one promising Sharks flyer has signed on with Scotland and was named amongst the squad today.

Here are the four uncapped Scotland players, that Gregor Townsend has named in his 2024 Six Nations squad.

An immediate talking point from Gregor Townsend's squad announcement, was the confirmation that Alec Hepburn has swapped nations after previously running out for six England caps. The Exeter Chiefs prop made his England debut in the 2018 Six Nations, with replacement cameo appearances against Italy and Wales. Hepburn played for less than 10 minutes on both occasions, but then later made his first England start against South Africa the following Autumn.

Hepburn played in subsequent Autumn Internationals against New Zealand, Japan and Australia, before being let go from the England fold by former head coach Eddie Jones. Hepburn has not featured for England since the 2018 Autumn Series, which permits him to play for a new nation due to the surpassing the three-year stand down period. The prop also qualifies for Scotland through his Glasgow-born father, and is a welcomed asset into Townsend's squad.

Hepburn has quite the international flavour to his ancestry, as he was born in Perth, Australia, which enabled him to play for the Wallabies before committing to Scotland. At club level, Hepburn has long been a fan favourite at Sandy Park, and is currently in his eighth season with Exeter Chiefs. Hepburn has been apart of the Devonshire club's finest moments, as Exeter won the 2019/20 Premiership and Champions Cup double, and more recently the 2022/23 Premiership Rugby Cup.

2. Arron Reed - Sale Sharks

Townsend's selection of Arron Reed is another noteworthy pick, as the Sale wing had garnered the interest of Steve Borthwick and the England set-up. One of the break-out stars of the last few Premiership seasons, Reed was an integral part of the Sale side that reached their first Final since the 2005/06 campaign. Despite coming out on the losing side to Saracens, Reed had shot into test match contention, along with back-three teammates Tom Roebuck and Joe Carpenter.

Reed has been apart of Sale Sharks since 2017, and has already amassed 100 caps for the Greater Manchester club. Despite Borthwick not calling upon his talents for the England senior set-up, Reed's skillset were recognised at an early age, as he made four appearances for the England U20s side. However, these age-group honours never transcended into a senior cap in the red rose, with Reed more than happy to swap allegiances for the Scottish thistle, in the upcoming Six Nations.

During his time with Sale, Reed has scored 28 tries, earning him a strike rate of 0.3 tries per game. The wing has been on top form again this season, with six Premiership tries to his name. Reed's tries this season have all come in a run of three consecutive matches, as he crossed over for an impressive brace of against Gloucester, grabbed one try against Bristol and scored twice again in the win over Newcastle. November 2023 was certainly a hot month for Reed, who will be hoping to heat up the Six Nations in the Scotland jersey.

Tight-head prop Will Hurd has earned himself a call-up into Gregor Townsend's side, and is another talent who England fans could have had in their squad. Born in Leicestershire, Hurd could have been on the cards to fill the upcoming tight-head void, when Dan Cole retires from England and Kyle Sinckler reportedly moves on to Toulon. However, having achieved age group honours with Scotland U20s, Hurd was already well on the radar for Townsend, who managed to keep the talent under-wraps.

One of the Premiership's top emerging props, Hurd has been plying his trade at the Tigers throughout sporadic loans away from Welford Road. Hurd has previously gained valuable game time at Championship club Nottingham, as well as with Scottish Super Series club Sterling County RFC. The signs had long been there for Hurd's calling into the iconic dark blue, with the 24-year-old now given his shot for the upcoming Six Nations. Hurd could well show England fans what they missed out on, as Borthwick's men travel to Murrayfield at the end of February.

Hurd made his Leicester Tigers debut back in 2021, when he came off the bench in a Champions Cup victory over Connacht. He has since gone on to make 37 appearances for the East Midlanders, and reinforced the ranks throughout the Tigers' Premiership winning campaign of 2021/22. Hurd has made 13 caps for the Tigers so far this season, with his most recent start being a gruelling 76-minute run out against Premiership champions Saracens back in November. He is yet to find his way to the try-line for Leicester, yet would want nothing more than to mark his test match debut with a long awaited try.

4. Harry Paterson - Edinburgh Rugby

Exhilarating talent Harry Paterson is the fourth and final uncapped player, who has been named in Townsend's Six Nations squad. The flying full-back has previously achieved international recognition, with his pace on full display in the Scotland 7s set-up. Paterson ran-out for Scotland 7s in an albeit brief globetrotting adventure, that took him to Singapore and Vancouver, Canada in 2022.

The 22-year-old is set to ignite the afterburners this February and March, as he has been doing on each appearence for Edinburgh. Paterson made his debut for the Scottish capital club back in 2021, as he starred at full-back against Ulster in the short-lived Rainbow Cup competition. He has since appeared a further nine times for the club, with his full focus on 15-a-side rugby demonstrated for the 2023/24 season. The outside back has started on the right wing and full-back for Edinburgh, in five matches so far in this campaign and most recently came off the bench in the Challenge Cup defeat to Gloucester.

Despite not yet finding his way to the try-line, Paterson has been darting through defences and dazzling the spectators on his appearances. The young rocket has certainly impressed the coaching staff at the SRU, who clearly recognise his talents and potential for Scotland's future. Should Paterson make his Scotland 15s debut this coming Six Nations, expect plenty of pace and a death-defying work rate that can only survive in the brutal game of rugby sevens.

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Seeing as we’re nice people, we’ve given you 30 minutes to see, with the number of appearances each nation has made given as a clue.