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Scotland A Squad to Face Italy

The Scotland A training squad has been announced ahead of their match against Italy XV at Stadio Centro D’Italia, Manlio Scopigno, on Friday 6 February, kick-off 6.30pm (Italian time).

Scotland A secured a narrow victory over Chile in their first home match in 10 years, winning 19-17 in November of last year. Prior to that, they last played away in Chile in 2022.

As part of the new performance pathway plans, A matches have been identified as a key way to develop players by competing at a high level ahead of making the step up to the national squad.

The side, which will also include players from within the Scotland Men’s squad, will be led by head coach Nigel Carolan, who is attack coach at Glasgow Warriors. He will be assisted by fellow Glasgow Warriors assistant coach Scott Forrest and Edinburgh Rugby assistant coach Stevie Lawrie.

Uncapped players in the squad include Gregor Hiddleston and Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, coupled with experience from the likes of Andy Onyeama-Christie and Cameron Redpath.

Hooker Hiddleston has impressed with Glasgow Warriors as part of a squad who qualified top of their European Champions Cup pool. Harri Morris, who made his full Scotland debut in November, is the third hooker selected.

Tighthead prop Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, who made his full Edinburgh debut earlier this season, is joined by clubmates James Whitcome, who arrived at Hive Stadium for the 2025/26 season as well as fellow props Alec Hepburn and Will Hurd.

Elsewhere, second row Cam Henderson is joined by Onyeama-Christie and Alexander Masibaka, to bolster the back row options alongside full Scotland squad members.

In the backs, stand-off Dan Lancaster has been rewarded for recent good form for Glasgow Warriors with a first international call-up to Scotland ranks, with scrum-halves Gus Warr and Ben Afshar completing the half-back options.

Full caps Harry Paterson, Arron Reed and Cam Redpath, the latter of whom has 15 outings for Scotland, complete the A squad.

Scotland A squad

Forwards
Ollie Blyth-Lafferty – Edinburgh Rugby
Cameron Henderson – Leicester Tigers
Alec Hepburn – Scarlets
Gregor Hiddleston – Glasgow Warriors
Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers
Alexander Masibaka – Montpellier
Harri Morris – Edinburgh Rugby
Andy Onyeama-Christie – Saracens
James Whitcombe – Edinburgh Rugby

Backs
Ben Afshar – Glasgow Warriors
Dan Lancaster – Glasgow Warriors
Harry Paterson – Edinburgh Rugby
Cameron Redpath – Bath Rugby
Arron Reed – Sale Sharks
Gus Warr- Sale Sharks

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