TAUNTON RFC will have a link to this year's Six Nations Championship as former Titans forward Sam Skinner has been named in the 39-man Scotland squad.

Skinner, 23, made three appearances for Gregor Townsend's side in the 2018 Autumn Internationals and was named man of the match on his debut against Fiji.

The versatile forward, who can play at flanker or in the second row, represented Taunton in the 2013/14 season - during which time he linked up with the Scottish Exiles - before being picked up by the Chiefs academy.

He has gone from strength to strength since then and is now a regular in the Chiefs pack - he is joined in the Scotland squad by Stuart Hogg, who will be his teammate at Sandy Park from next season.

Born in Exeter, Skinner is eligible to play for Scotland through his father, Peter, and confessed during last year's autumn fixtures that "he grew up supporting Scotland and England."

He could yet feature against another former Taunton forward if he plays against the country of his birth during the Six Nations - England name their squad tomorrow and ex-Titans prop Ben Moon could be set for a place after appearing throughout the Autumn Internationals.

Scotland squad for 2019 Guinness Six Nations:

Forwards: Alex Allan, Adam Ashe, Simon Berghan, Jamie Bhatti, David Cherry, Allan Dell, Grant Gilchrist, Gary Graham, Jonny Gray, John Hardie, Jake Kerr, Stuart McInally, Willem Nel, D’Arcy Rae, Jamie Ritchie, Sam Skinner, Grant Stewart, Josh Strauss, Tim Swinson, Ben Toolis, Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson

Backs: Chris Dean, Darcy Graham, Nick Grigg, Sam Johnson, Chris Harris, Adam Hastings, Stuart Hogg, George Horne, Pete Horne, Huw Jones, Lee Jones, Blair Kinghorn, Greig Laidlaw, Sean Maitland, Ali Price, Finn Russell, Tommy Seymour