Former Griquas captain Kyle Steyn has been called up to Scotland’s World Cup training squad.

Coach Gregor Townsend initially named a 42-man squad with space set aside for two players to force their way into contention.

And on Tuesday, he called up Glasgow Warriors pair Steyn and Scott Cummings following their strong individual performances in the Pro14 final against Leinster last Saturday.

‘Kyle has made an excellent impact since his debut for Glasgow earlier this season and has displayed strong defensive capabilities, as well as a providing go-forward for his team when carrying ball,’ Townsend said of Kleyn’s inclusion.

‘His versatility is a bonus. He started out playing on the wing for Glasgow, has moved into the centre and has performed equally well in both roles. With every game he has looked more assured, and from our point of view, he will primarily be considered a winger who can cover the centre position.

‘We have others in our squad that we view more as centre/wings, but I’m sure over the course of the summer Kyle will get the opportunity to show what he can do in both positions.’

The 25-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise in the past 12 months, first impressing for the Scotland sevens team in six tournaments before forcing his way into the Glasgow Warriors’ backline, long before the one-year deal he signed for the 2019-20 season even started.

The South African-born Steyn, who qualifies for Scotland through his Scottish-born mother Gillian, previously captained Griquas in the Currie Cup, and played for Maties in the Varsity Cup. 

Photo: @GlasgowWarriors/Twitter