Australia-born number eight Alex Masibaka, who plays for Angouleme in the second tier of French rugby, has received a shock call-up to Scotland’s Six Nations squad.
The unheralded forward replaces Josh Bayliss, who is expected to miss the tournament after being added to the growing list of unavailable players when he was injured playing for Bath on Sunday.
The 23-year-old – with a mother from Paisley and a father from Fiji – was born in Perth and played briefly for Western Force before being signed by French club Montpellier in 2022.
The Top 14 side loaned him the following campaign to Pro D2 side Angouleme, where he has remained this season.
Masibaka, who is 6ft 1in and 18st, has scored 12 tries in 30 games for the club in south-west France, where he plays with former England winger Jonny May.
Scotland’s management have been tracking him since 2021 and want a closer look at his power and ball-carrying game.
Their interest in Masibaka grew with the injury to Bayliss, who was so impressive in the autumn Tests.
Head coach Gregor Townsend has Jack Dempsey and Jack Mann as his number eights in the squad but was limited in his other options when looking for a replacement for Bayliss.
