Munster out-half Ben Healy has been named in Scotland's squad for the Six Nations and could make his debut against England at Twickenham on 4 February.
Healy will join Edinburgh at the end of the season and he has been fast-tracked into the Scotland set-up by head coach Gregor Townsend.
Scotland are without injured out-half Adam Hastings due to injury while Scottish-qualified Fin Smith was called up by England. That has opened the door for Healy, who qualifies for Scotland through his grandparents.
Head coach Gregor Townsend said Healy had been hitting good form and that the coaching staff felt the Tipperary-born out-half was at test match level.
"Ben brings recent form, which is great," Townsend told the BBC. "We feel he's got Test match ability. He leads the attack well when he gets the opportunity to do that.
"He's someone who, around connection - where to attack, where to be, position... he's very, very good. He's got a strong kicking game too, those are his biggest tactical strengths at stand-off.
"He's confident, that's very important playing that position."
Healy will challenge Finn Russell and Blair Kinghorn for a place in the match-day 23 when Scotland face England in their Six Nations opener.
Scotland have once again taken advantage of World Rugby's recent change in eligibility rules to include English cap Ruaridh McConnochie.
In a similar move to the one that allowed Jack Dempsey to convert from Australia to Scotland earlier this season, Gregor Townsend has persuaded the 31-year-old Bath wing to pledge his allegiance to the nation of his father's birth three and a half years after making two appearances – including one at the 2019 Rugby World Cup – for England.
Glasgow centre Stafford McDowall and Leicester second-row Cameron Henderson are the other two uncapped players in Townsend’s 40-man squad.
Darcy Graham, who scored a hat-trick of tries in Scotland’s last match against Argentina in November, has not been included as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. It remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to be called in during the tournament.
Hamish Watson and Zander Fagerson are included despite being sidelined by injury in recent months, but Scott Cummings, Rory Darge and Adam Hastings – who have also been battling fitness issues – have not made the squad.
Experienced pair Sean Maitland and Huw Jones have both earned recalls to the national team set-up.
Scotland have won their last two Calcutta Cup meetings with England but have not beaten their old rivals in three successive fixtures since 1972.
Despite defeating England in their opening fixture of the past two Six Nations, Scotland went on to finish a disappointing fourth on both occasions.
Scotland have won their last two Calcutta Cup meetings with England but have not beaten their old rivals in three successive fixtures since 1972.
Despite defeating England in their opening fixture of the past two Six Nations, Scotland went on to finish a disappointing fourth on both occasions.
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