Jonny Gray returns to Scotland Six Nations squad, Maro Itoje chosen as 'surprise' captain for England

Bordeaux lock Jonny Gray and Edinburgh hooker Dave Cherry have been recalled to the Scotland squad for the Guinness Six Nations.

Uncapped duo Jack Mann and Fergus Burke have also earned call-ups for the first time, with Glasgow captain Kyle Steyn the most notable absentee from Gregor Townsend's 37-man pool after sustaining an injury in recent days.

Gray is the most eye-catching inclusion as he won the last of his 77 caps almost two years ago, in the Six Nations match at home to Italy in March 2023.

The 30-year-old second-rower, who missed the 2023 World Cup with a knee injury, appeared to have burned his bridges under Townsend when the head coach expressed "disappointment" in October that he had declined a call-up for the autumn series after returning to action with Bordeaux at the start of this season.

Another player handed a surprise recall for the upcoming championship is 34-year-old Cherry, who has not been included in a single squad since making an early exit from the 2023 World Cup after suffering a concussion when falling on stairs on a day off at the team hotel in Nice the day after coming on as a substitute in the Scots’ pool-stage opener against South Africa.

Sione Tuipulotu, who was handed the captaincy for the autumn series, continues as skipper, with Russell and Rory Darge named as vice-captains.

There has been a change of leadership in the English camp, with Steve Borthwick naming Maro Itoje for the Six Nations campaign at the expense of Jamie George.

Borthwick met Itoje on Monday to ask his former Saracens colleague to take charge of the team and, according to the head coach, was met with a smile that "could have lit up the whole of England".

George was demoted to vice-captain following a 2024 which produced only