Scotland axe Barclay and Cowan for RWC

Sep 1, 2015 - 3:08 PM Back-row forwards John Barclay and Blair Cowan were the two most high-profile omissions when Scotland coach Vern Cotter named his 31-man squad for this month's World Cup on Tuesday.

But fellow back-row John Hardie -- who only arrived in Scotland five weeks ago from New Zealand and has played just 57 minutes of international rugby after making his debut in Turin this month -- was included by Kiwi coach Cotter.

Cowan's absence was a particular surprise as the New Zealand-born forward, who plays his club rugby for London Irish, started all five of Scotland's Six Nations matches this season.

Barclay, meanwhile ended a near two-year spell in the international wilderness when he was recalled for this month's warm-up matches with Ireland and Italy.

But despite scoring in 48-7 rout of Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday, the Scarlets openside flanker has also been left out of the 31-man squad who will cross the border into England for the World Cup.

Gloucester scrum-half Greig Laidlaw will continue to captain the side.

Squad

Backs

Full-back: Stuart Hogg

Wings: Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Tim Visser

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

Fly-halves: Finn Russell, Duncan Weir

Scrum-halves: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; Greig Laidlaw (capt), Henry Pyrgos

Forwards

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

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

Hookers: Fraser Brown, Ross Ford, Stuart McInally

Props: Alasdair Dickinson, Ryan Grant, Gordon Reid, Willem Nel, Jon Welsh

Source: AAP