EXCLUSIVE: Sale Sharks star Warr to be named in Townsend’s Scotland squad for summer tour of North and South America
- Scrum Half has played for England and Scotland under-20s but is ready to tip his hat to the Scots
- The 24-year-old will be part of Townsend’s plans for matches with Canada, USA, Chile and Uruguay in July
- Manchester-born Warr qualifies through his mother from Strathaven and has established himself as Sale’s first-choice No.9
Gus Warr will make his Scotland debut this summer, with the Sale scrum-half set to be included in Gregor Townsend’s squad for the tour of the Americas.
Manchester-born Warr has emerged as a key figure for Alex Sanderson’s Sharks in the Gallagher Premiership and has established himself as the club’s number 9.
The 24-year-old has played for both England and Scotland at Under-20 level but is ready to throw his hat into the mix with Townsend’s side.
Mail Sport understands he will be part of the squad named on Wednesday for Scotland’s games with Canada, USA, Chile and Uruguay in July.
Warr has been in regular contact with Townsend during a senior call-up. He is one of the new players the Scotland head coach is keen to take a look at next month.
He qualifies for Scotland through his mother, who is from Strathaven. He also wore a blue shirt for the country’s Under-18s and Under-19s.
Sale Sharks star Gus Warr will be part of the senior Scotland line-up
Warr has become Sale Sharks’ number 9 this season
Scotland boss Townsend has already had talks with the player
With the Scottish age group system struggling to produce players, Townsend is keen to expand his squad with eligible players from around the world.
Mail Sport understands Scotland have also explored the possibility of signing hooker Jack Singleton, who is now eligible to switch countries as the last of his three England caps came in 2019.
However, it seems unlikely that the front-row forward, who is currently on loan from Gloucester at French side Toulon, will be picked by Townsend this week.
Instead, young hookers Paddy Harrison and Gregor Hiddleston are in line for a call-up.
Townsend is also a big fan of Saracens-bound fly-half Fergus Burke, who will join the Premiership squad from New Zealand team Crusaders this summer.
Burke also qualifies for both England and Scotland.
Burke and center Mosese Tuipulotu are two players currently based in the southern hemisphere who could soon be seen in a Scotland shirt, possibly as soon as this summer.
Warr in action for Scotland Under-19s against France in 2018
Manchester-born Warr also played for England at youth level
Warr (front) wrestles La Rochelle’s Dillyn Leyds during a Champions Cup match
The Crusaders and Tuipulotu’s Waratahs failure to make the Super Rugby play-offs could hasten their move north.
Tuipulotu are coming to Edinburgh next season, as MailSport revealed in May. There is every chance he could join his brother Sione in Townsend’s squad this week.
Warr’s Sale colleague Arron Reed will be present. Like Warr, Reed also qualifies for England. He was included in Scotland’s Six Nations squad earlier this year, although he did not play.
Scotland have four summer games ahead of them, the first of which takes place in Ottawa on July 6 against Canada.
Townsend’s squad next meets the US at Audi Field in Washington DC on July 12 before heading south.
Matches with Chile in Santiago and Uruguay in Montevideo on July 20 and 27 complete an eclectic but important tour in which Scotland should be aiming for four wins.