GLASGOW Warriors lock forward Tim Swinson said he felt for his clubmates who didn’t make the cut after celebrating his shock recall to the Scotland World Cup squad. The 28-year-old, who was sent away from Vern Cotter’s original 46-man group to recover from an ankle problem back in June and consequently played no part in the three warm-up matches to date, was a surprise name in yesterday’s squad announcement in Edinburgh. While 15 members of Gregor Townsend’s squad will participate in this month’s global showpiece, Swinson’s elevation came directly at the expense of the luckless Rob Harley, who joins the likes of Mike Cusack, Adam Ashe, Hugh Blake and Rory Hughes in the list of Warriors who narrowly failed to make the cut.

“I certainly feel for them,” said Swinson. “Having gone through believing I wasn't going to make it because of my injury, I know it isn't nice. It is quite a tough time for those guys and hopefully I can support them as much as they have supported me so far. I spoke to Rob on Monday and he was hugely supportive. It takes a big man to say what he said. It was fantastic support from a good friend.

“This is one of the reasons why I am thankful I am not the coach,” added the 28-year-old, who already has 12 caps for his country. “He [Cotter] has to make some tough decisions, hopefully we can show why he made those decisions and prove that they were the right decisions. It is not just Vern, though. It is the guys in the squad, Greig [Laidlaw, the captain], right down to the boys who unfortunately didn't make the 31. I want to do my best in a Scotland shirt for everyone I have played with and played for.”

To say Swinson was surprised by his selection is an understatement. While Cotter had vowed to keep track of the Glasgow Warrior’s progress, when he returned from Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Sunday after playing a part in his club side’s 19-12 defeat to Canada, the jet-lagged player could only assume that the missed call from the New Zealander on his mobile phone was the Kiwi doing him the courtesy of thanking him for his time and wishing him all the best for the future.

“I really had no idea,” said Swinson, who has 12 caps for his country. “On Sunday morning I missed a call from Vern and I was a bit confused - especially after having not slept for just over a day with the travel and the game. I wondered if he was just phoning everyone who had been in the original 46 just to say thankyou for helping out and everything.

“It was only when I spoke to him on the Sunday that he gave me the news,” the lock forward added. “I was really shocked. I didn't know how to react because it was something which wasn't even on my radar. It is a huge honour for me and I am so excited.”

Although injury could yet see others called up to take part, for now the contingent of Warriors players invited to the event includes prop forwards Ryan Grant and Gordon Reid, hooker Fraser Brown, lock forwards Swinson and Jonny Gray, back rows Josh Strauss and Ryan Wilson, stand offs Finn Russell and Duncan Weir, centres Mark Bennett, Peter Horne and Richie Vernon, wingers San Lamont and Tommy Seymour and full back Stuart Hogg. The last warm-up match comes against France on Saturday ahead of the group opener against Japan in Gloucester on Wednesday September 23.