No Russell in Scotland squad of 40 that has three uncapped players

Racing 92 fly-half Finn Russell has been left out of the Scotland squad for the Autumn Nations Series while Jamie Ritchie takes over the captaincy. Russell was given the summer off as Scotland toured South America, alongside several other players who had featured on the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa the previous year, but he has not been brought back into the fold by head coach Gregor Townsend for games against Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina at BT Murrayfield.

Edinburgh’s Blair Kinghorn, Adam Hastings of Gloucester and Glasgow’s Ross Thompson will battle for the No10 jersey. Russell was dropped for Kinghorn for Scotland’s final Guinness Six Nations match in March after it emerged he was one of six players to have breached team protocol by going out drinking in Edinburgh after returning from their win in Italy the previous weekend.

Then skipper Stuart Hogg was among the group, all of whom have been selected for this Scotland squad with the exception of Russell and Sam Johnson, who suffered a broken jaw while playing for Glasgow at the weekend. Hogg was also left out of the summer tour and has been replaced as captain by Ritchie, who missed the Test series against Argentina through injury.

Townsend had insisted while naming his summer squad that the breach of discipline after the Italy game had no bearing on his selection and the issue had been ironed out. Russell had previously fallen out with Townsend following a similar breach of protocol ahead of the 2020 Six Nations, although the pair had repaired their relationship.

Three uncapped players have been included in the 40-strong selection. Australia international Jack Dempsey has been called up after switching allegiances while his uncapped Glasgow teammates Murphy Walker and Stafford McDowall are also included in Townsend’s squad.

Dempsey won 14 caps for Australia but has been able to join the Scotland set-up under recently-introduced World Rugby rules that allow players to change sides following a three-year period of international inactivity. Richie Gray has been given the chance to add to his 67 caps, the last of which came in the 2021 Six Nations.

Scotland will open their account against Australia on October 29, a game where they will only be able to select their home-based players due to the match falling outside the international window. There are no restrictions for the November games versus Fiji, the All Blacks and Argentina.

Scotland Autumn Nations Series Squad

Forwards (22)

Ewan Ashman (Sale Sharks) 4 caps

Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby) 3 caps

Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 22 caps

Dave Cherry (Edinburgh Rugby) 7 caps

Andy Christie (Saracens) 3 caps

Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps

Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 23 caps

Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped

Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 24 caps

Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 50 caps

Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) 55 caps

Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) 69 caps

Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 67 caps

Nick Haining (Edinburgh Rugby) 11 caps

WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 48 caps

Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) - CAPTAIN - 32 caps

Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 12 caps

Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby) 22 caps

Rory Sutherland (Ulster Rugby) 20 caps

George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) 27 caps

Murphy Walker (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped

Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) 51 caps

Backs (18)

Mark Bennett (Edinburgh Rugby) 27 caps

Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby) 29 caps

Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby) 36 caps

Adam Hastings (Gloucester Rugby) 26 caps

Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) 93 caps

George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 17 caps

Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh Rugby) 4 caps

Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 34 caps

Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped

Rufus McLean (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps

Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) 54 caps

Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby) 2 caps

Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap

Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps

Ross Thompson (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps

Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 7 caps

Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 19 caps

Ben White (London Irish) 6 caps