GLASGOW Warriors players make up exactly half of Gregor Townsend’s first Scotland squad - and two of the three uncapped players in the group of 34 also come from the new national coach’s old team. Prop D’Arcy Rae and centre Nick Grigg are the Warriors players who will be hoping for a Test debut against Italy, Australia or Fiji, while Edinburgh hooker George Turner is also in line to win a first cap.

Ex-Glasgow forward John Barclay has been named as captain because Greig Laidlaw has been called up by the Lions, joining Warriors backs Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour in the squad for the three-Test series against New Zealand. There are 17 Glasgow players in Townsend’s group, 10 from Edinburgh, six from England and Wales and Richie Gray from French club Toulouse.

On the whole, Townsend has opted for experience, but he also appears confident that Rae and Grigg will be able to make the step up to Test rugby. “He has been very consistent this year,” the new coach said when asked about Rae’s call-up. “He was going to be involved last weekend [against Edinburgh], but needed minor surgery, which means he’ll be out for a couple of weeks and available for the tour.

“Nick has earned his spot. Some of his performances for Glasgow have been fantastic: tackle breaks, line breaks, tries scored. Real dominance in the tackle area.

“It’s brilliant to see someone thriving in the pro environment and love every minute of it and play really well. He’s in good form and has to go on that tour believing he can play Test-match rugby.”

If Grigg does get capped he will become the latest in a long line of so-called kilted Kiwis to have travelled from New Zealand to represent Scotland. Townsend explained that it was a former All Blacks captain - the father of two New-Zealand-born Scotland internationals - who first suggested to him that it was worth taking a look at Grigg.

“Two years ago I got a message from Andy Leslie, father of John and Martin, talking about this player who was Scottish-qualified who he thought really could make it across in Scotland. He played at his club team in the Wellington area, Petone, and said he was worth a chance.

“[Grigg] came over on a four-week trial and his energy and enthusiasm was fantastic, and we got him an academy contract, part-time with Stirling. The Stirling guys will tell you he was outstanding, and he earned his pro contract this year.”

Townsend’s coaching team is made up of assistants who were with him at the Warriors - forwards coach Dan McFarland, defence coach Matt Taylor and skills coach Mike Blair, who will continue to work at Scotstoun outside of the international windows. Yesterday it was confirmed that strength and conditioning coach Stuart Yule and analyst Gavin Vaughan will also join the Scotland backroom team from the Warriors.

Meanwhile, the Warriors have announced that Kenny Murray will be staying with them next season as assistant coach, with his main focus being on defence. Murray will take pre-season training along with Jason O’Halloran and Jonathan Humphreys, who are moving from the Scotland set-up. Dave Rennie will come in as head coach when his involvement in Super Rugby with the Chiefs comes to an end.