Saracens’ New Zealand-born stand-off Fergus Burke has been named in Scotland’s squad for the 2025 Six Nations.
Burke joined the English club last summer to fill the void left by former England captain Owen Farrell’s move to France.
The 25-year-old was born in Gisborne on New Zealand’s North Island but is eligible for Scotland through a grandfather from Glasgow.
Gregor Townsend, preparing to lead the side into his eighth championship, has also called up uncapped Glasgow number eight Jack Mann.
Mann has excelled for the Warriors in the absence of Jack Dempsey – who is fit enough to be named in the squad – and is rewarded for his form with a first call at the age of 25.
Bordeaux lock Jonny Gray, who has 77 caps, returns to the squad after declining a call-up for the autumn Tests.
Glasgow Warriors centre Sione Tuipulotu, captain for the games in November, will continue to lead the team, with Finn Russell and Rory Darge the vice-captains.
Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Gregor Brown (Glasgow), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Scott Cummings (Glasgow), Rory Darge (Glasgow), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), Will Hurd (Leicester), Jack Mann (Glasgow), D’Arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Dylan Richardson (Sale), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh).
Backs: Fergus Burke (Saracens), Matt Currie (Edinburgh), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), George Horne (Glasgow), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Tom Jordan (Glasgow), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow), Finn Russell (Bath), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (Toulon)
Gray, 30, is one of five second rows, alongside Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Marshall Sykes and Gregor Brown – but there is no place for Max Williamson following injury.
Kyle Steyn is absent with a knee injury but could play a part in the later games in the championship, so the back-three options are Blair Kinghorn, Duhan van der Merwe, Darcy Graham and Kyle Rowe.
Adam Hastings is injured, facilitating the call-up for Burke, who is one of three stand-offs in the pool along with Russell and another New Zealand-born playmaker, Tom Jordan.
Burke, who is also eligible for England, has leapfrogged Edinburgh pair Ross Thompson and Ben Healy to earn a place in the squad, which has three scrum-halves in it – Ben White, George Horne and Jamie Dobie.
Tuipulotu is joined in the squad by four other centres – his regular midfield partner Huw Jones as well as Stafford McDowall, Matt Currie and Rory Hutchinson.
Flanker Andy Christie, a star of last year’s Six Nations, and precocious back rower Freddy Douglas are both injured with back-three option Harry Paterson has only just returned to fitness.
Scotland begin their campaign at home against Italy on 1 February, with defending champions Ireland the visitors to Murrayfield eight days later.
Scotland won twice in the 2024 Six Nations but lost tight games against France and Italy to finish fourth in the table.
