SA-born quartet crack nod in Scotland's Rugby World Cup squad, scrumhalf White passed fit

Ben White was included in coach Gregor Townsend's Scotland squad for the Rugby World Cup announced on Wednesday following fears the scrumhalf might miss the tournament in France.

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First-choice No 9 White suffered an ankle injury in the first of two warm-up games against France earlier this month but has been passed fit after consulting a specialist.

There was no place in the 33-man tour party for Stuart McInally, who captained Scotland at the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

The 33-year-old Edinburgh hooker announced at the end of last season that he would retire following the end of the September-October World Cup.

McInally won his 49th cap in last Saturday's 30-27 warm-up defeat by France in Saint-Etienne.

Townsend's squad will be captained by flanker Jamie Ritchie.

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Strong SA flavour

It includes 14 players who were the squad in 2019, with four - South African-born WP Nel, Grant Gilchrist, Richie Gray and Finn Russell - set to appear in a third World Cup.

White will face competition for the No 9 jersey from the Glasgow duo of Ali Price and George Horne.

South Africa-born winger Duhan van der Merwe, centre Kyle Steyn and prop Pierre Schoeman also feature in the squad, while former Stormers centre Huw Jones is also included. Jones was born in Scotland but first made his mark playing for UCT's Ikey Tigers in the Varsity Cup.

The Scots - who have faced France twice and Italy in recent weeks - have one more warm-up match at home to Georgia a week on Saturday.

Scotland face a daunting task in Pool B at the World Cup which includes world number one side