Coach Vern Cotter has named WP Nel and Josh Strauss in Scotland's extended Six Nations training squad.

The 29-year-old Nel made his Test debut against Italy last year and has won eight caps since, while Strauss played in his first Test against Japan at the World Cup. 

Cotter has also included two uncapped props in Zander Fagerson, who plays for the Glasgow Warriors, and Rory Sutherland, who represents Edinburgh. 

'We’ve selected a mixture of experience with some exciting youngsters coming through, some of whom have experienced the World Cup and are eager to move forward, take the Six Nations head on and show that we can develop our game and be competitive,' said Cotter.

'There are positive signs that we can compete, and this Championship will give us another opportunity to measure ourselves against very good opposition in a tough competition,' he added. 

Scotland start their Six Nations campaign in a sold-out fixture against England at Murrayfield on 6 February.

Scotland squad: 

Forwards – Ross Ford, Pat MacArthur, Stuart McInally, Alasdair Dickinson, Zander Fagerson, Moray Low, WP Nel, Gordon Reid, Rory Sutherland, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Tim Swinson, Ben Toolis, Adam Ashe, John Barclay, Blair Cowan, Dave Denton, Chris Fusaro, John Hardie, Josh Strauss.
Backs – Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Greig Laidlaw, Finn Russell, Duncan Weir, Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Peter Horne, Matt Scott, Duncan Taylor, Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Tim Visser, Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson. 

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