Four players cut as Townsend reduces Scotland squad to 37

Gregor Townsend has cut four players from his Scotland training squad as he named a 37-strong training squad ahead of their match against France in Saint-Etienne.

Stafford McDowall, Adam Hastings, Cameron Henderson and Kyle Rowe have all been sent back to their clubs, and barring injury, appear to be out of the reckoning for a Rugby World Cup spot.

A statement reads: "Following yesterday’s 25-21 victory over France, Gregor Townsend has reduced his Rugby World Cup training squad to 37. Stafford McDowall, Adam Hastings, Cameron Henderson and Kyle Rowe have returned to their clubs ahead of the match against France in St. Etienne next Saturday and the Rugby World Cup squad being named on Wednesday 16 August."

With Hastings cut it suggests that former Musnter standoff Ben Healey looks odds on to go to the Rugby World Cup.

Updated Scotland training squad for Rugby World Cup 2023

FORWARDS:

Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps

Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps

Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby) 4 caps

Dave Cherry (Edinburgh Rugby) 9 caps

Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby) 5 caps

Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 27 caps

Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors) 9 caps

Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 10 caps

Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 35 caps

Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 59 caps

Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) 63 caps

Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 74 caps

Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) 48 caps

WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 54 caps

Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) - CAPTAIN - 41 caps

Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 22 caps

Javan Sebastian (Edinburgh Rugby) 4 caps

Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby) 26 caps

Rory Sutherland (Unattached) 24 caps

George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) 36 caps

Murphy Walker (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps

Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) 58 caps

BACKS:

Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors) 2 cap

Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby) 35 caps

Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby) 43 caps

Ben Healy (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps

George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 21 caps

Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 37 caps

Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 45 caps

Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) 62 caps

Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby) 7 caps

Finn Russell (Bath Rugby) 70 caps

Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps

Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 11 caps

Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 17 caps

Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 29 caps

Ben White (RC Toulon) 15 caps