The reduced squad of 30 players will meet up next week for a training camp ahead of the opener against France at Gueugnon on February 7.

All three of Scotland’s home matches - against Wales, Italy and Ireland - will be played at Netherdale.

Head Coach Sean Lineen said: “We have selected a strong group, and one we are confident will compete well in the 6 Nations.

“These players are getting consistent game-time at a high level whether that be through the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy games, their club team in the BT Premiership or, for some of them, exposure to the professional game.

“In our previous camps this season, we’ve seen a good standard of rugby, but we need to keep building on that to go into the Championship as sharp and as confident as possible.

“The 6 Nations is a big stage, and provides the players the chance to compete in a major tournament but, before they get the opportunity to play in the Championship, they need to put the hard work in and fight for their position in the match-day squads.” The head coach believes that his young Scots will have an advantage being based at Netherdale.

Lineen continued: “It’s great that we are returning to Gala for our three home games this season. It’s an excellent ground, with one of the best pitches in the country.

“We urge the people from the area to come down and see what’s on offer right on their doorstep. Only two years ago Jonny Gray, Adam Ashe and Mark Bennett, all played at Netherdale as part of the Scotland under-20s, and now they have full international caps.

“It’s an excellent standard of rugby, and an opportunity to see Scottish rugby’s future stars.” FIXTURES Scotland under-20 v France under-20, Jean Laville Stade, Gueugnon, Saturday, Feburary 7 (kick-off 8.55pm local time) Scotland under-20 v Wales under-20, Netherdale, Friday, February 13 (kick-off 6pm) Scotland under-20 v Italy under-20, Netherdale, Friday, February 27 (kick-off 7.30pm) Scotland under-20 v England under-20, Northern Echo Arena, Darlington, Friday, March 13 (kick-off 5.30pm) Scotland under-20 v Ireland under-20, Netherdale, Friday, March 20 (kick-off 7.30pm) SQUAD Forwards Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby/Boroughmuir) Lewis Carmichael (Melrose) Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow Hawks) Andrew Davidson (Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow Hawks) Dan Elkington (Watsonians) Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow Hawks) Cameron Fenton (Glasgow Warriors/Heriot’s) Ross Graham (Hawick) Neil Irvine-Hess (Melrose) Jake Kerr (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonians) Murray McCallum (Aberdeen Grammar Rugby/Aberdeen University)* Ally Miller (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonians) Jack Owlett (Exeter Chiefs/Exeter University) Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) Gary Robertson (Gala) Matthew Smith (Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County) Lewis Wynne (Stirling County) Backs Ben Chalmers (Bordeaux-Begles) Alex Coombes (London Scottish) Harvey Elms (Currie) Tom Galbraith (Melrose) George Horne (Glasgow Hawks) Ruairi Howarth (Edinburgh Rugby/Gala) Rory Hutchison (Northampton Saints) Patrick Kelly (Le Parc) Andrew Manson (Stewart’s Melville FP) Reuben Norville (Leicester Tigers) Paul Ramsay (Glasgow Hawks) Archie Russell (Stirling County) George Taylor (Melrose/Loretto School)