Huw Jones gets shock call up to Scotland tour squad

SCOTLAND coach Vern Cotter has made Huw Jones his surprise replacement for Finn Russell in the squad for next month's two-Test tour to Japan.

Stormers centre Huw Jones has been called into the Scotland squad for the tour of Japan. Picture: Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images

The 22-year-old Edinburgh-born centre, who plays for South African Super Rugby side Stormers, replaces stand-off Russell, who sustained a head injury in last weekend’s Guinness Pro12 semi-final in Galway.

Jones attended the famous Millfield School in Somerset before a gap year in South Africa led to him staying on at the University of Cape Town and ultimately forging a professional career, first with Westen Province.

The introduction of the powerful centre to the squad, rather than replacing Russell with a specialist No 10 like Duncan Weir or Worcester’s Tom Heathcote, means that Glasgow’s Peter Horne will cover the stand-off berth along with Ruaridh Jackson.

Jones said: “I’m delighted to get this opportunity to play for Scotland. It’s a dream come true.

“I didn’t go out to South Africa with the intention of becoming a professional rugby player but, as my career progressed, it become more of a realistic goal to play for Scotland.

“The call came as a bit of a surprise but I’m thrilled and can’t wait to get to Edinburgh next month and play my part in an exciting squad.”

Cotter added: “We’re pleased to welcome Huw into the group and look forward to him deepening the competition in an already well-contested area of our squad.”

Jones and the rest of the Scotland squad will convene at BT Murrayfield on Monday 6 June for a training camp before flying to Tokyo the following Saturday (11 June).