Townsend would call on the experienced duo of Van der Merwe and Tuipulotu for the summer tour of Scotland

• Scotland’s head coach will name his squad for the summer tour on Wednesday
• Gregor Townsend wants to go for the youth, but needs some experienced heads
• The Scots will face Canada, the US, Chile and Uruguay in four tests in July

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend will resist the temptation to rest stars Duhan van der Merwe and Sione Tuipulotu when he names his summer tour squad on Wednesday.

The pair are Townsend’s first choice when fit, but after a long season that started this time last year, ahead of the 2023 World Cup in France, both have played a lot of rugby in the last 12 months. Scotland’s four games in July are against Canada, USA, Chile and Uruguay.

Townsend is close to naming a youth touring party for those matches, but Mail Sport understands Van der Merwe and Tuipulotu will both be included to gain much-needed experience.

While it is unlikely that they will play in all matches in the Americas, their involvement is something of a surprise as Scotland’s opponents are not leading nations and they may have benefited from a summer break leading into the 2024/ 2025. .

In that respect, Townsend also has a big call on fly-half Finn Russell, who captained Scotland in the Six Nations and only returned for the business end of the Gallagher Premiership season with his club Bath after recovering from a groin injury.

Russell was part of the Bath side that were beaten by Northampton in the Premiership final last weekend and it is understood Scotland are leaning towards releasing him in the summer.

As Mail Sport reported earlier this week, Sale scrum-half Gus Warr is set for a Scotland debut this summer and will receive a first senior call-up from Townsend.

Warr, born in Manchester and therefore eligible for England, has impressed in the Premier League with Sale. But he is now ready to throw his weight in for Scotland at senior level after donning a blue shirt in age-level rugby.

Elsewhere, expect a host of new faces to join Townsend’s company.

Young hookers Paddy Harrison and Gregor Hiddleston will encapsulate the youthful feeling as Scotland look to the next generation with the 2027 World Cup in Australia in mind.

Meanwhile, Scotland’s first-choice hooker George Turner has signed for Japanese side Kobelco Kobe Steelers, a move that raises real doubts about his international future.

Glasgow announced last month that the 31-year-old forward would end his seven-year spell at Scotstoun at the end of this season.

It was confirmed yesterday that Turner has agreed to join Kobe for the 2024-2025 season, reuniting him with former Warriors head coach Dave Rennie, who now fills the same role with the Japan squad.

There is nothing strictly stopping Turner from adding to his 45 caps, but the Japan Rugby League One schedule clashes directly with the Six Nations, putting his involvement in the tournament in clear jeopardy.

Front rower Turner, who has become a mainstay of Townsend’s starting XV, revealed that playing at the 2019 World Cup in Japan had sparked his desire to move to the Far East.

“I’m really looking forward to playing for the Kobe Steelers,” he said. ‘I couldn’t pass up such a great opportunity to live and play in Japan.

‘I always wanted to go back since the World Cup in 2019.

“Kobe is a great team and I can’t wait to add everything I can to their success.

‘It’s a wonderful adventure for myself, but also for my family, who will learn so much from the experience. Japanese rugby is super exciting and I’m looking forward to taking on the challenge.”

Turner has the chance to leave Glasgow on a high if they can secure United Rugby Championship glory over the next two weekends, with Warriors facing Munster in the play-off semi-final on Saturday.