Edinburgh winger Tim Visser has been picked for Scotland’s tour of Australia, Fiji and Samoa next month even though he’s not eligible to play until after the Wallabies test. Dutch-born Visser, the Pro12 players’ player of the year and top tryscorer, won’t be eligible for Scotland until June 12, a week after the test against Australia in Newcastle. By then he will have qualified on three years’ residency. “I’m very honoured, having lived here for such a long time now I’ve got to know the country and the people very well and I feel very much part of the country,” he said on Wednesday. “I would love to represent Scotland.” He’s one of five uncapped players, along with Edinburgh fullback Tom Brown, and Glasgow Warriors prop Ryan Grant, and locks Robert Harley and Tom Ryder in the 28-man squad. Scotland, looking to arrest a run of seven straight losses, its worst sequence since 1998, has been hit by injuries and suspensions in its buildup to the three-test tour. Edinburgh prop Allan Jacobsen has been rested, but out injured are No.8 David Denton (ankle), winger Lee Jones (shoulder), flanker Kelly Brown (leg), and lock Jim Hamilton was suspended. Flyhalf Ruaridh Jackson was dropped in favour of Glasgow teammate Duncan Weir, who made his debut in the Six Nations. “One quarter of the squad has yet to start an international but we’ve seen from the manner in which Edinburgh and Glasgow have finished the domestic season that there’s confidence that we will be looking to build on,” said coach Andy Robinson. “This is a tough tour for Scotland. We’ll be playing against three attack-minded teams on their own turf. But it’s an important opportunity to start the rebuilding process after a disappointing Six Nations.” After Australia, Scotland plays Fiji on June 16, and Samoa a week later. Scotland: Backs: Joe Ansbro, Mike Blair, Tom Brown, Chris Cusiter, Nick De Luca, Max Evans, Alex Grove, Stuart Hogg, Greig Laidlaw, Sean Lamont, Matt Scott, Tim Visser, Duncan Weir. Forwards: John Barclay, Geoff Cross, Ross Ford (captain), Ryan Grant, Richie Gray, Dougie Hall, Robert Harley, Alastair Kellock, Scott Lawson, Euan Murray, Ross Rennie, Tom Ryder, Alasdair Strokosch, Richie Vernon, Jon Welsh.
Scotland pick 5 new caps for South Pacific
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