De Luca drafted into Scots squad for remaining tour games

Nick De Luca has been playing 7s rugby for Scotland

Centre Nick De Luca has joined up with the Scotland squad for the final two games of their summer tour against Argentina and South Africa.

The 30-year-old has been added to Vern Cotter's pool with injury concerns mounting for the new head coach after wins over USA and Canada.

"I'm delighted to be called up and looking forward to hopefully proving my worth to the new coach," said De Luca.

"It's a big opportunity I have to take or I think it'll be my last inclusion."

De Luca made his last appearance for Scotland in November against Australia, and has been playing for the national 7s side.

He recently left Edinburgh Rugby to join Biarritz.

Scotland take on Argentina in Cordoba on Friday and face South Africa in Port Elizabeth on 28 June in the final game of the four-match tour.

Jim Hamilton, Duncan Taylor, Alasdair Strokosch, Kelly Brown, Ruaridh Jackson and Johnnie Beattie all picked up injuries in the first two tour matches.

A largely different squad was selected for the last two matches of the tour, with many players returning to their club sides.

And former Scotland captain Andy Nicol says if one squad had been chosen for the whole tour the players would be "out on their feet by the time they get to South Africa".

Nicol reckons the tour offers Cotter a great chance to get to know his squad, but admits the players will be finding it difficult.

"It's the end of a long season and the game now is very physical, but the conditioning is much better now, the pre-hab and rehab," said Nicol.

"You're not seeing careers shortened but the intensity of the games are just brutal now, and it's the length of the season that's difficult as well.

"Some guys are finished now, some have two weeks to go until the South Africa game, and they won't have long before they're back in training again for next season."