Uncapped duo Hiddleston & Stephen in Scotland squad

Uncapped hookers Gregor Hiddleston and Seb Stephen have been named in Scotland's 36-man squad for the Nations Championship matches against Argentina, South Africa and Fiji this summer.

Both Hiddleston, 24, and Glasgow Warriors team-mate Stephen, 20, have been capped by Scotland Under-20s and the former has two Scotland A caps. Stephen featured for Emerging Scotland last year.

Back-rower Jack Dempsey is included despite his imminent move to Japan and Finn Russell also features in an experienced squad, but Blair Kinghorn and Grant Gilchrist are rested.

Huw Jones, Jamie Ritchie and George Turner miss out because of injury.

Gregor Townsend's side face the Pumas in Cordoba on 4 July, the Springboks in Pretoria on 11 July and Fiji at Murrayfield on 18 July.

Glasgow centre Sione Tuipulotu continues as captain while Liam McConnell, D'arcy Rae and Duhan van der Merwe will join the Scotland squad after being involved in the Barbarians' matches with South Africa and Wales later this month.

The Scots finished third in this year's Six Nations with three wins out of five.

"It is a much tougher tour than ever before, certainly in the time I've been coach," said head coach Gregor Townsend.

"Not only with the travel, but the opposition. Three teams in the top eight in the world and one being the number one team in the world.

"We feel as strong a team as possible will give us the best chance of winning. But also we're going to get a lot of learning from these games to take into next season."

Although the bulk of the squad is the same as was picked to start the Six Nations in January, Townsend explained the absence of some big-name players.

Hooker Turner has picked up an Achilles injury recently which has ruled him out of the tour, while Ritchie's ankle issue ended his hopes, having also hurt his arm against England in February.

British and Irish Lions centre Jones is coming back but Townsend says he will not be match fit by the time the opener against Argentina comes around.

Hooker Dave Chery also has a back problem.

Kinghorn is through to another Top 14 semi-final with Toulouse later this month, having played a year without an extended period of rest.

"We wanted him to have a bigger break this season, he didn't get that after the Lions tour last year," Townsend added.

At 35, Gilchrist has played most of Scotland's Test matches for the past two seasons and has also been given a break.

"We really want him to be playing his best rugby next year and get to a World Cup, that's the goal for him," Townsend explained.

"We feel having a longer break this summer will help that."

Forwards: Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, Magnus Bradbury, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Freddy Douglas, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Jonny Gray, Gregor Hiddleston, Will Hurd, Nathan McBeth, Liam McConnell, Elliot Millar Mills, D'arcy Rae, Alex Samuel, Pierre Schoeman, Seb Stephen, Rory Sutherland, Max Williamson.

Backs: Fergus Burke, Jamie Dobie, Darcy Graham, George Horne, Rory Hutchinson, Tom Jordan, Stafford McDowall, Kyle Rowe, Finn Russell, Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White.