Vern Cotter Surprises Again

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has cast his net a little wider ahead of the Rugby World Cup after calling up Highlanders flanker John Hardie.

A Super Rugby winner this year with the Highlanders, Hardie linked up with Scotland on Wednesday to join the national team's pre-campaign preparations.

"We're pleased to welcome John into the group and look forward to him intensifying the competition for places in an already fiercely contested area of our squad,” said Cotter.

"Depth is crucial to any World Cup campaign and it will be vital to see the contributions of the entire squad in our four warm-up matches, before making a decision on the final 31.”

The flanker qualifies for the country through his grandmother Christina Lumsden from Low Valleyfield, Culross in Fife.

Hardie said: "Representing Scotland has been on my radar for a long time so I'm delighted to get this chance to compete for a place in the squad for the Rugby World Cup.

"I'm under no illusions how tough it's going to be to make the final selection but I'm looking forward to getting started and showing how much this opportunity means to me and my family.”