Nine Scotland wildcards Gregor Townsend should consider for summer tour and six who should stay at home

Chance to experiment and build depth for trip to Americas

Gregor Townsend will next month name his Scotland squad to tour North and South American, a four-match sojourn that will see the national side take on the United States, Canada, Chile and Uruguay in July. It’s a chance for Townsend to experiment and build depth and a number of senior players are likely to be rested, particularly those who have had long domestic seasons and are likely to come into contention for the Lions tour to Australia in summer 2024.

The Scotland coach has said he is considering taking a big initial squad then trimming down to 30 or so for the second leg in South America. Speaking after the Six Nations, Townsend hinted at a few wildcard selections. “Tours do give you opportunities to look at people who have been off the bench in this campaign, or who haven’t played at all, or who haven’t played that much at pro level,” he said.

Here are nine players with little or no Test-match experience who are likely to come under consideration.

Mosese Tuipulotu is leaving the Waratahs in Australia to join Edinburgh and could follow brother Sione into the Scotland national team. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Matt Currie

Edinburgh’s versatile centre travelled to South America with Scotland two years ago and played in the A-international against Chile but was one of five players who returned home before the Test series against Argentina. A first full cap remained tantalisingly out of reach on that occasion but his form this season makes him a near certainty for an international debut this summer. Ostensibly an outside centre, Currie, 23, started the season at 12 before returning to 13 but has played three of Edinburgh’s last four matches on the wing to help alleviate their back-three injury woes. His willingness to slot in where required and his effective strong running have made him one of the first names on Sean Everitt’s team sheet and the Edinburgh coach gave him a glowing recommendation last week: “Matt Currie’s definitely ready to don the Scottish jersey,” said Everitt. “He’s shown unbelievable maturity, and playing out of position as well.”

Harry Paterson

The Edinburgh wing/full-back was a surprise inclusion in Gregor Townsend’s Six Nations squad and then a shock starter in the round 2 match against France at Murrayfield after Kyle Steyn’s wife went into labour. Paterson was told he was playing on the morning of the game and was so overcome with nerves that he couldn’t finish his breakfast. He recovered to put in a hugely impressive performance against a star-studded French backline, prompting Townsend to describe it as one of the best debuts he’d ever seen. Paterson’s had no luck with injuries since, sustaining a stress fracture in his foot while with Scotland then picking up a quad injury when he was close to making his comeback for Edinburgh. With the tour not until July, he will hopefully have time to recover.

Harry Paterson made his Scotland debut earlier in the year.

Arron Reed

Another surprise call up for the Six Nations, the Sale Sharks winger is a former England under-20 international and even scored against Scotland in the 2019 U20 Six Nations. But his Scottish roots run deep. His gran is from Coldstream, his father, Allan, was born in Edinburgh, his uncle Steven used to play for Edinburgh and his girlfriend’s family hails from Skye. Reed, who turns 25 in July, wasn’t used during the Six Nations but has been a regular for Sale in their impressive run to the Premiership play-offs. At 5ft 10in and 13st 3lb he’s no giant but he has pace to burn and good footwork.

Gregor Hiddleston

Scotland have been blessed with stalwart hookers over the past decade-plus but there is a changing of the guard going on. Fraser Brown and Stuart McInally, who won 61 and 49 caps respectively, have both retired. George Turner is currently injured and being linked with a move to Japan. Johnny Matthews has forced his way into the international reckoning with some excellent performances for Glasgow Warriors and is on course to be the club’s top try-scorer for the third season running. But he is not the only hooker at Scotstoun catching the eye. Gregor Hiddleston has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign under Franco Smith, starting in away games against Exeter Chiefs, Scarlets and Zebre, and scoring three tries in those matches. The Glasgow coach rates him and called him up after Hiddlestone helped Stirling Wolves win this season’s Super Series Championship. The Dumfries-born 22-year-old is a former Scotland U20 international.

Speedy winger Arron Reed switched to Scotland from England.

Euan Ferrie

A Scotland U20 lock who has been deployed in the back row by Glasgow Warriors and scored a try in Saturday’s loss to the Lions in South Africa. The East Kilbride-born Ferrie has been knocking on the door for Glasgow for the last couple of seasons and has been involved in eight matches during the current campaign. Franco Smith was asked last week about his readiness for an international call-up and didn’t hesitate. “Definitely,” said the Warriors coach. “He’s a tall guy and his detail is very good. He’s very fit and he applies himself physically very well – Scotland can be excited about this youngster.”

Max Williamson

A powerful second-row forward who signed professional terms with Glasgow Warriors last season after graduating from the FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy. This has been hugely impressive campaign for the former Dollar Academy and Stirling County player who has played in 16 Glasgow matches. His work ethic appeals to Smith who describes Williamson as “a grafter, somebody that does the dirty work and is not always seen carrying the ball, maybe, or running around and making passes. But he does his job properly”. The 21-year-old is 6ft 6in and weighs in at 18-and-a-half stone.

Gregor Hiddleston could be the future for Scotland at hooker.

Mosese Tuipulotu

Sione’s little brother is coming to Edinburgh next season but Scottish rugby fans might catch an earlier glimpse of him if Townsend opts to take him on tour. The centre has not had a particularly happy time of it this season at New South Wales Waratahs where his game-time has been limited in a team that has struggled but the 23-year-old has the ingredients to suggest he could flourish in Scotland. A hard-carrying centre with excellent athletic attributes, Mosese has been on the SRU’s radar for some time. He resisted overtures to join Glasgow last season but has now decided his future lies in Scotland. Sione has been a brilliant addition to the national side and the hope is that Mosese can follow suit.

Cameron Anderson

Joined Harlequins from London Scottish last summer and has enjoyed an impressive first season with the Premiership club as they pushed for the play-offs and reached the European Champions Cup semi-finals. The utility back began his senior career in the Wasps Academy and played for Scotland at the 2019 U20 Six Nations and World Rugby U20 Championship. Got valuable game-time after moving to London Scottish in 2022 and then joined Quins as part of the strategic partnership between the two clubs. He signed a new contract earlier this month and Harlequins director of rugby Billy Millard said: “Cam’s contribution this season has been excellent. He has been called upon at different times, performed well and is continuing to grow,.”

Ally Miller

The Scotland Sevens international is not a new name but, at 28, he’s arguably enjoying his best season in the 15-a-side game. The back-row forward has found a new lease of life at Glasgow and has been a key player in Franco Smith’s squad. Scored important tries in the back-to-back wins over Bayonne and Edinburgh in December, the first an absolute cracker. Has made 15 appearances so far this season, mostly from the bench, and can play across the back three.

Cameron Anderson of Harlequins is tackled by Shay McCarthy of Munster during a friendly.

Staying at home

Townsend won’t want to tour without a core of hardened, experienced Test pros and will be mindful of the defeat Scotland suffered against the US on their last tour of North America. But he’ll also be conscious of what a long season this has been for many of his senior players who began training for the Rugby World Cup around this time last year and haven’t really stopped. A summer off for the likes of Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu, Grant Gilchrist, Pierre Schoeman, Jamie Ritchie and Blair Kinghorn might be more beneficial than four more Test matches against Tier 2 opposition.