"South Africa U20s star" - Who are the Seven newcomers to Scotland's 2026 Six Nations camp?

Townsend has named quite the established squad of seasoned internationals, with Glasgow Warriors centre Sione Tuipulotu set to spearhead the side as captain once again. The top stars from the land North of the border are ready for another hit out in 'Rugby's Greatest Championship', with the likes of 2025 Lions tourists Finn Russell, Huw Jones and Blair Kinghorn in the mix once more.

However, Townsend has also called up seven players to his squad, that are pushing for their first experience of a Six Nations match day. In this article, we will have a look at these stars that are all vying for a taste of the on-field action, in the hopes that they make their long awaited tournament debuts throughout the coming weeks. Whilst these players have all been capped by Scotland, these seven men all share the same dream of stealing the show upon a Six Nations debut.

Nathan McBeth’s journey from South African youth standout to Scotland international is a story of talent, adaptability, and perseverance. Born in Welkom, he represented South Africa U18s and U20s before qualifying for Scotland through his Edinburgh-born grandfather. The 27-year-old prop made a mark in Super Rugby with the Lions and Golden Lions, including facing the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour side, before signing with Glasgow Warriors in October 2021.

McBeth debuted against Benetton later that month and became a key figure in the Warriors’ front row. Known for his raw power, mobility, and scrummaging technique, he scored four tries in four successive home matches in the 2024–25 season, a remarkable return for a prop. His performances earned him the club’s Mackenzie Construction Most Improved Player of the Season award.

Internationally, McBeth earned his first senior Scotland call-up in 2024 for the Skyscanner Americas Tour, debuting off the bench against Canada. With five caps already to his name, McBeth combines physicality with versatility and intelligence, making him a vital asset for Scotland’s pack in the upcoming Six Nations. Off the pitch, he enjoys fishing and cites Springbok legend Os du Randt as a major influence.

For D’Arcy Rae, this Six Nations window feels less like a debut and more like a long-overdue return to the conversation. The Irvine-born tighthead has already worn the thistle five times, but remarkably has yet to feature in a Six Nations campaign – a quirk of timing rather than talent. Now 31, Rae arrives with scars, miles in the legs, and a game hardened by experience across Scotland, England, France and Italy.

Rae’s journey has never been straightforward. From winning an Ayr treble as a 17-year-old to grinding through eight seasons with Glasgow Warriors, his career has been defined by graft and resilience. Loan spells at Benetton and London Scottish toughened him early, while his move to Bath in 2021 saw him tested weekly in the Premiership before injury interrupted momentum. Short-term stints at Montpellier only added to the edge.

What Rae brings now is substance. At Edinburgh, he has quietly re-established himself as a reliable, scrummaging tighthead with a sharp rugby brain – no surprise for a qualified coach who has already dipped into the technical side of the game. He is mobile, durable, and unafraid of the dark places in tight matches. For Scotland, Rae represents depth with bite. In a Six Nations where front-row durability is gold dust, his inclusion is a nod to experience earned the hard way – and a chance, finally, to make his mark on the championship stage.

Few players arrive in a Scotland Six Nations squad with a CV quite like Fergus Burke’s. A product of the Crusaders’ famed academy system, Burke has already won Super Rugby titles, kicked points in knockout matches, and operated in one of the most unforgiving environments in world rugby. Yet, with just three caps to his name, the 26-year-old has not experienced the unique pressure cooker of the Six Nations.

Born in Gisborne and raised in New Zealand’s rugby heartland, Burke’s game was shaped by precision and composure. A prolific points-scorer for Canterbury, he topped the NPC charts in 2022 and proved himself a trusted deputy – and later partner – to All Blacks superstar Richie Mo’unga at the Crusaders. Equally comfortable at fly-half or full-back, his versatility became a hallmark of his Super Rugby career.

Injuries briefly stalled momentum in late 2023, but Burke’s move to Saracens in 2024 has sharpened his edge. Handed the keys to the No.10 shirt at StoneX, he has settled quickly into Premiership rugby, showcasing control, game management and a reliable boot under pressure. Now with Owen Farrell back in North London, Burke is learning from a proven Six Nations champion ahead of his tournament debut.

For Scotland, Burke represents a modern playmaker option: calm, tactically astute and battle-tested well beyond his international experience. If handed a Six Nations debut, he brings the feel of a player ready-made for the stage rather than one learning on it.

Alex Craig arrives in this Scotland squad as a forward who has quietly built a broad, resilient résumé without yet enjoying an extended Six Nations run. At 6ft 6in and close to 120kg, Craig offers the physical profile modern Test rugby demands, but it is his work rate and lineout intelligence that have long marked him out as international material.

Raised in Dumfries and developed through Hartpury’s highly regarded pathway, Craig emerged as part of a strong Scotland U20 generation that achieved the country’s best-ever finish at the World Rugby U20 Championship in 2017. His early senior career with Gloucester hardened him in the Premiership, where he amassed 50 appearances and learned his trade against elite opposition week after week.

A move to the Scarlets in 2023 proved a turning point. Craig flourished in Llanelli, earning Players’ Player of the Season in his first year and establishing himself as a leader in the Welsh side’s pack. That form earned him a return to the Scotland fold and, ultimately, a homecoming with Glasgow Warriors ahead of the 2025/26 season. Despite six caps, Craig is yet to feature in the Six Nations itself. His blend of athleticism, defensive graft and set-piece reliability makes him a strong option in the engine room, and this campaign could finally offer him the platform to translate steady international involvement into a defining Championship breakthrough.

Freddy Douglas is one of the most exciting young forwards to emerge from Scotland’s development pathway in recent years, and his inclusion in the Six Nations squad underlines just how rapidly his stock has risen. Still only 20, the Edinburgh back-rower combines natural athleticism with an abrasive edge that belies his age.

Raised in Edinburgh in a rugby-focused family, Douglas came through Stewart’s Melville College before joining Edinburgh’s professional academy ahead of the 2023/24 season. His progression was swift. A standout performer for Scotland U20s, he played a central role in the side that lifted the World Rugby U20 Trophy in 2024 and also impressed during the U20 Six Nations, scoring twice against Wales in the opening round.

That form translated seamlessly to senior rugby. Douglas made his Edinburgh debut against Benetton in November 2024 and soon after signed his first professional contract. Within weeks, he added further milestones, earning call-ups for Scotland ‘A’ and the senior national side in quick succession.

His senior international debut came off the bench against Portugal in the Autumn Nations Series, a moment that made him Scotland’s youngest capped men’s player since 1963. Yet to feature in a Six Nations match, Douglas offers dynamism, breakdown aggression and fearless defence, and this campaign could mark the start of a long international career at the highest level.

Liam McConnell is a rising star in Scottish rugby, already making waves despite only recently breaking onto the senior international stage. The Edinburgh back-rower combines size, athleticism, and leadership qualities that have seen him fast-tracked from age-grade rugby to the Scotland senior squad.

A product of Stewarts Melville Lions and Boroughmuir, McConnell captained Scotland U20 to the World Rugby U20 Trophy triumph on home soil in 2024, securing the side’s place back in the U20 Championship. He also led Emerging Scotland against Italy U23 later that year, showing composure and maturity well beyond his 21 years.

McConnell made his Edinburgh debut in December 2024 against Gloucester and quickly established himself in the United Rugby Championship, scoring a late try against Zebre in the opening match of the 2025-26 season. His international breakthrough came in November 2025 when he earned his first full cap in Scotland’s emphatic 85-0 win over the USA at Murrayfield.

Known for his physicality, intelligence at the breakdown, and ability to inspire teammates, McConnell’s inclusion in the Six Nations squad promises to inject energy and leadership into Scotland’s back row. His performances at club and age-grade levels suggest he is ready to translate that promise into impact on rugby’s biggest northern hemisphere stage.

Max Williamson has quickly established himself as one of Scotland’s most promising second-row talents. A towering 6ft 7in lock from Glasgow, Williamson honed his skills with Stirling County and Dollar Academy before joining the Scottish Rugby Academy and graduating to a permanent role with Glasgow Warriors in 2022. His physicality, lineout intelligence and a tireless work rate has made him a key figure in the Warriors’ engine room.

Williamson made his professional debut in November 2023 against Benetton and quickly announced himself with his first club try the following March against Cardiff, showing his ability to impact the scoreboard as well as dominate set pieces. He has also gained experience on loan with London Scottish and Doncaster Knights, building a well-rounded skill set.

Internationally, Williamson represented Scotland at U16, U17, and U20 levels, earning nine caps for the senior team after debuting against Canada in July 2024 on the Skyscanner Americas Tour. Already a starter in some matches, his combination of size, athleticism, and intelligence makes him a player to watch in the upcoming Six Nations. Balancing rugby with studies in mathematics at the University of Strathclyde, Williamson’s rise is a testament to dedication and adaptability, and he will bring energy and precision to Scotland’s pack.