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Josh Strauss, John Hardie included in Scotland's World Cup squad

Vern Cotter includes Josh Strauss and John Hardie in his 31-man Rugby World Cup Scotland squad.

Vern Cotter has included back-rowers Josh Strauss and John Hardie in Scotland's 31-man Rugby World Cup squad.

South African born Strauss does not qualify on residency for Scotland until one day after the World Cup kicks off, while Hardie has just one cap to his name and qualifies through his Scottish grandmother.

Adam Ashe, John Barclay and Rob Harley are all Scottish-born back-rowers that miss out, as does Blair Cowan, a permanent fixture of Scotland's squad over the past two years.

Alex Dunbar has also been excluded after he failed to recover from a serious knee injury suffered in March, while Greig Laidlaw will captain the side.

Richie Vernon went to the 2011 World Cup as a back-row but now plays as centre.

Scotland's Rugby World Cup squad:

Front-row: Alasdair Dickinson, Ryan Grant, Gordon Reid, Willem Nel, Jon Welsh, Fraser Brown, Ross Ford, Stuart McInally

Locks: Richie Gray, Jonny Gray, Tim Swinson, Grant Gilchrist

Back-row: Josh Strauss, John Hardie, Alasdair Strokosch, Ryan Wilson, David Denton

Half-backs: Greig Laidlaw, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Henry Pyrgos, Finn Russell, Duncan Weir

Centres: Mark Bennett, Peter Horne, Matt Scott, Richie Vernon

Back-three: Stuart Hogg, Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Tim Visser

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Calum Gillon
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