Head coach Vern Cotter yesterday added two players to Scotland’s viagogo Autumn Test training squad in Newcastle.
Peter Horne, the five-times capped Glasgow Warriors centre, and uncapped Edinburgh scrum-half, Sam Hidalgo Clyne, have been brought in as precautionary injury cover for Alex Dunbar and Chris Cusiter respectively.
Dunbar reported ankle discomfort during the Warriors’ European Rugby Champions Cup win over Montpellier in France on Saturday, while Cusiter missed Sale Sharks’ corresponding Cup clash with a calf strain.
The pair will require further assessment from the medical team over the coming days to determine their time of return.
SRU
While the bulk of the squad convened as planned on Sunday night, the arrival of Warriors’ wingers Tommy Seymour and Sean Maitland was delayed until Monday as both experienced concussive episodes following head knocks sustained against Montpellier.
Scotland will now begin a three-day camp at the Royal Grammar School, one of the team’s training bases during the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup 2015.Both were advised to rest at home over night and began their graduated, return-to-play protocols when they arrived on Tyneside this morning.
Head coach Vern Cotter and his men will then reconvene in Edinburgh on Sunday 2 November ahead of the opening viagogo Autumn Test match against Argentina at BT Murrayfield the following Saturday 8 November (kick-off 17:30 BST)
Scotland will then play two Tests on consecutive Saturdays, taking on World Champions, New Zealand, at the same venue on Saturday 15 November; and Tonga at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock on Saturday 22 November.
Injured captain Gilchrist replaced by Hamilton
Scotland head coach Vern Cotter texpressed his disappointment for Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist, who has been ruled out of the viagogo Autumn Tests through injury.
The 24-year-old fractured his forearm in his club’s 25-17 win over Lyon in the European Challenge Cup at BT Murrayfield last night, four days after being named as national team captain.
Cotter said: “Clearly this is really disappointing news for Grant, who’s been a fine player and leader for his club this season; and was set to continue that role for Scotland this autumn. Despite being unable to play, he will still join and be part of the squad in camp tomorrow, and feature heavily in our preparations for the viagogo Autumn Tests.”
Saracens’ 56-times capped second-row, Jim Hamilton, will replace Gilchrist in the 33-man Scotland squad that convened for a training camp in Newcastle on Sunday, with an announcement on the captaincy to be made in due course.
Uncapped Edinburgh back-row Hamish Watson, who was invited to train with the squad, sustained a cheek injury in the same game in an unrelated incident, and has also been ruled of the Tests.
No replacement has been named for Watson at this time.