Australian-born Alexander Masibaka is one of five players called up to the Scotland squad ahead of this weekend's Six Nations opener against Italy on Saturday.

Masibaka, who plays for Soyaux-Angouleme in the second tier of French rugby, has taken Josh Bayliss' place, after picking up a groin injury while playing for Bath against Sale.

The 23-year-old has impressed this season in Pro D2 on loan from Montpellier, having previously featured for the Western Force. 

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has also added Euan Ferrie, Cameron Henderson, Ewan Johnson and Ollie Smith to the squad ahead of facing Italy at Murrayfield. 

Versatile back Smith returns to the squad less than 24 hours after making his first Glasgow appearance for 407 days, in Sunday's narrow win over Connacht.

Uncapped Ferrie was a member of the URC winning Glasgow Warriors squad last season and has previously trained with the national team during Townsend's tenure. 

Johnson made his debut on Scotland’s summer tour last year, in a 73-12 victory over Canada. The Oyonnax second-row also made his first appearance at Murrayfield against Portugal in 2024 and played in the Scotland A victory over Chile at the end of the year.

Leicester Tigers' Henderson, meanwhile, made his debut for Scotland in 2023 against Italy before sustaining a knee injury at the end of the year, but has since returned to action.

Squad Update | Head Coach Gregor Townsend has called up five players ahead of the opening weekend of the Guinness Men's Six Nations.

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— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) January 27, 2025

Updated Scotland squad: 

Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Gregor Brown (Glasgow), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Rory Darge (Glasgow), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow), Euan Ferrie (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux), Cameron Henderson (Leicester), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), Will Hurd (Leicester), Ewan Johnson (Oyonnax), Jack Mann (Glasgow), Alexander Masibaka (Soyaux-Angouleme), D'Arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh).

Backs: Fergus Burke (Saracens), Matt Currie (Edinburgh), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), George Horne (Glasgow), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Tom Jordan (Glasgow), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow), Finn Russell (Bath), Arron Reed (Sale), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ollie Smith (Glasgow), Ben White (Toulon).