Six Nations: Scotland call up Alexander Masibaka from France second-tier squad ahead of opener Rugby League news

Australian-born Alexander Masibaka is one of five players to be called up to the Scotland squad ahead of this weekend’s Guinness Six Nations opener.

France back-row forward Masibaka replaces Josh Bayliss, who suffered a groin injury against Sale in Bath. Bayliss will remain at the club to further assess the damage.

Euan Ferrie, Cameron Henderson, Ewan Johnson and Ollie Smith are also on Saturday (2.15pm) Join the team ahead of Italy’s visit to Murrayfield.

Masibaka is on loan from Montpellier and has been called up after impressing at Soyre-Angoulême in France’s second tier.

The 23-year-old former West Power player qualified to represent Scotland through his Paisley-born mother.

Versatile defender Smith returned to the squad less than 24 hours after making his debut in Glasgow in 407 days in Sunday’s narrow win over Connacht. Smith returned to action for Scotland A against Chile at the end of November.

Ferry did not feature for the team, but the 23-year-old Glasgow forward has previously trained with Gregor Townsend’s side.

Henderson made his Scotland debut against Italy in 2023 but suffered a knee injury later that year. The 25-year-old has earned a recall thanks to his solid performances at Leicester City.

Oyonnax second-row forward Johnson won his first four international caps last year and featured against Chile in November.

Updated Scotland line-up

forward: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Gregor Brown (Glasgow), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Rory Darge (Glasgow), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow), Euan Ferry (Glasgow),Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux), Cameron Henderson (Leicester City)Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), Will Hurd (Leicester), Ivan Johnson (Oyonnax)Jack Mann (Glasgow), Alexandre Masibaka (Zouillaux-Angoulême)D’Arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh).

Back: Fergus Burke (Saracens), Matt Currie (Edinburgh), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), George Horne (Glasgow), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Tom Jordan (Glasgow), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowell (Glasgow), Finn Ra Sale (Bath), Arron Reed (for sale), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Olly Smith (Glasgow)Ben White (Toulon).