Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell and Kyle Steyn rested for Argentina and Chile tour

Gregor Townsend has left Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell, and Kyle Steyn out of his 40-player squad for the summer tour of Argentina and Chile.

“Stuart and others are going to get a break this summer and we believe that will be of big benefit to them,” said Townsend.

“Someone like Stuart Hogg, he’s played more minutes than anybody else that’s available to us and when you put that on the back of the Lions tour the year before, we believe the best thing for him and others is to rest this summer.

Lock Grant Gilchrest will captain the side with Hogg not selected.

“Grant’s already one of our leaders. To get named as captain is a big honour for him. We feel he’s coming into his best rugby,” added Townsen

Townsend has included uncapped forwards Ben Muncaster, Murphy Walker and Glen Young, while backs Matt Currie, Kyle Rowe and Ollie Smith could also debut.

Edinburgh flanker Jamie Ritchie has not recovered from injury in time for the tour.

In March, Hogg, Russell, Darcy Graham, Sam Johnson, Ali Price and Sione Tuipulotu were disciplined for breaching team protocols following the Six Nations win over Italy in Rome. Five of that group featured in the championship closing defeat by Ireland and all but Hogg and Russell are included for the summer tour.

Summer tour to Chile and Argentina

Scotland ‘A’ will take on Chile in Santiago on 25 June before the Tests with the Pumas on the first three Saturdays in July.

“This tour and in particular the Chile game gives us an opportunity to look at more players, players that perhaps wouldn’t have gone into the Six Nations squad that’s just has passed,” Townsend explained.

“After the A game against Chile then it’s likely that that squad will drop for the Test series and again as we go through the Test series, we won’t keep 35 players for the final week in Argentina, that’ll probably get closer to 28-30.”

Scotland squad

Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Sale), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Andy Christie (Saracens), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Scott Cummings (Glasgow), Rory Darge (Glasgow), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Exeter), Jamie Hodgson (Edinburgh), Ben Muncaster, Pierre Schoeman (both Edinburgh), Javan Sebastian (Scarlets), Sam Skinner (Exeter), Rory Sutherland (Worcester), George Turner (Glasgow), Murphy Walker (Glasgow), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh), Glen Young (Edinburgh)

Backs: Mark Bennett, Matt Currie, Darcy Graham (all Edinburgh), Adam Hastings (Gloucester), George Horne (Glasgow), Damian Hoyland (Edinburgh), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton), Sam Johnson (Glasgow), Huw Jones (Harlequins), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Rufus McLean, Ali Price (both Glasgow), Kyle Rowe (London Irish), Ollie Smith, Ross Thompson, Sione Tuipulotu (all Glasgow), Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester), Ben White (London Irish)

Tour schedule

Chile v Scotland A, Saturday 25 June 2022, kick-off 21:00 BST- Estadio Santa Laura Universidad SEK, Santiago

Argentina v Scotland, Saturday 2 July 2022, kick-off 20:10 BST – Estadio 23 de Agosto, Jujuy

Argentina v Scotland, Saturday 9 July 2022, kick-off 20:10 BST – Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta

Argentina v Scotland, Saturday 16 July 2022, kick-off 20:10 BST – Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago Del Estero