THE Autumn Nations Series kicks off next Saturday October 29 and Gregor Townsend has named his squad.

Borderers Rory Sutherland, Darcy Graham and Stuart Hogg are included.

Sutherland recently joined Ulster on a short-term deal until the end of the season after the company holding his Worcester contract went into liquidation

Graham is in fine form and was named as his club’s player of the month for September after scoring six tries for Edinburgh in three United Rugby Championship games.

Exeter Chiefs full-back Hogg was rested for the summer tour of South America earlier this year is back but won’t be captain.

That role will be taken by Edinburgh Rugby flanker Jamie Ritchie.

READ MORE: Police issue 11-tickets during operation to address illegal parking in Borders

The 26-year-old is current co-captain of Edinburgh and previously led Scotland alongside Ali Price, against Tonga last Autumn, having played for the national team for four years amassing 32 caps.

Also in the squad are former Melrose players Rufus McLean, Damien Hoyland and Cameron Redpath, son of former Scotland captain Bryan Redpath.

Scotland will open their Autumn Nations Series account against Australia on when they take on the Wallabies for the second year in a row after defeating them 15-13 last autumn.

Scotland will only be able to select their home-based players for this fixture due to the match falling outside the international window.

Next up will be Fiji who Scotland last played in 2018 which finished in a thrilling 54-17 victory.

READ MORE: Southern Knights start recruitment process for new head coach

On Sunday November 13 the All Blacks will visit BT Murrayfield in what is an eagerly anticipated match with the two sides having last faced each other in 2017, when Scotland were narrowly defeated 22-17.

The series will finish with a match against familiar foes Argentina when Scotland will be looking to end the year with a victory having been defeated 2-1 in the dying moments of the three-Test summer tour.

Scotland Autumn Nations Series Squad: Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Sale Sharks) Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby) Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) Dave Cherry (Edinburgh Rugby) Andy Christie (Saracens) Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby) Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby)
Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) Nick Haining (Edinburgh Rugby) WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby) Rory Sutherland (Ulster Rugby) George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) Murphy Walker (Glasgow Warriors) Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) 51 caps

Backs: Mark Bennett (Edinburgh Rugby) Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby)
Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby)  Adam Hastings (Gloucester Rugby) Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh Rugby) Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors)
Rufus McLean (Glasgow Warriors) Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby) Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) Ross Thompson (Glasgow Warriors) Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby )Ben White (London Irish)

Autumn Nations Series 2022 Fixtures;

Scotland v Australia, Saturday 29 October, kick-off 5.30pm, BT Murrayfield

Scotland v Fiji, Saturday 5 November, kick-off 1pm, BT Murrayfield

Scotland v New Zealand, Sunday 13 November, kick-off 2.15pm, BT Murrayfield

Scotland v Argentina, Saturday 19 November, kick-off 3.15pm, BT Murrayfield