Smith set for comeback with 'Emerging Scotland' after year out

Ollie Smith has nine Scotland caps

Scotland and Glasgow full-back Ollie Smith is poised to make his return after a year out when 'Emerging Scotland' face Italy this weekend.

The 24-year-old ruptured his knee ligaments during a Champions Cup pool-stage match away to Bayonne on 15 December last year but has not featured for his club since recovering.

Head coach Franco Smith has now released Smith to make his comeback for the Scotland Under-23 side when they play their Italian counterparts at Edinburgh's Hive Stadium on Saturday.

The match marks the first 'Emerging Scotland' fixture and forms part of the national academy pilot programme launched in September.

Smith travelled to the 2023 World Cup with Scotland as head coach Gregor Townsend's second-choice full-back, and he is now focused on working his way back into first-team contention before the Six Nations.

Emerging Scotland Squad:

Forwards: Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, Rob Carmichael, Tom Currie, Mikey Jones, Liam McConnell, Euan McVie, Harri Morris (all Edinburgh); Macenzzie Duncan, Dan Halkon, Callum Norrie, Joe Roberts, Callum Smyth (all Glasgow Warriors); Rudi Brown (Vannes); Cairn Ramsay (Currie Chieftains); Rhys Tait (Doncaster Knights).

Backs: Jack Brown, Nairn Moncrieff, Conor McAlpine, Cammy Scott, Nathan Sweeney, Findlay Thomson, Lewis Wells (all Edinburgh); Amena Caqusau, Brent Jackson, Kerr Johnston, Ben Salmon, Matthew Urwin, Kerr Yule, Ollie Smith (all Glasgow Warriors); Sinjin Broad (Heriot's); Geordie Gwynn (Ealing Trailfinders).