LONDON - 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.
Scotland coach Vern Cotter has omitted back-row forwards John Barclay and Blair Cowan from his World Cup squad
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 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 (Glasgow)
Wings: Sean Lamont (Glasgow), Sean Maitland (London Irish/ENG), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow), Tim Visser (Harlequins/ENG)
Centres: Mark Bennett (Glasgow), Peter Horne (Glasgow), Matt Scott (Edinburgh), Richie Vernon (Glasgow)
Fly-halves: Finn Russell (Glasgow), Duncan Weir (Glasgow)
Scrum-halves: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh); Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester/ENG, capt), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow)
Forwards
Back-rows: David Denton (Edinburgh), John Hardie (Unattached), Josh Strauss (Glasgow), Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan/FRA), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow)
Locks: Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Glasgow), Richie Gray (Castres/FRA), Tim Swinson (Glasgow)
Hookers: Fraser Brown (Glasgow), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh)
Props: Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh), Ryan Grant (Glasgow), Gordon Reid (Glasgow), Willem Nel (Edinburgh), Jon Welsh (Newcastle/ENG)