RBS 6 Nations

The uncapped 20-year-old has only recently made an impact with his club Glasgow - but he has impressed, especially against English giants Bath in the European Cup.

Jackson was due to showcase his talents on the biggest club stage when Sean Lineen's men travelled to Toulouse last weekend but was ruled out with injury just before kick-off.

He joins Dan Parks, who stepped into the Glasgow side against Toulouse and played extremely well, and Edinburgh's Phil Godman as the No.10s in the squad, meaning there is no place for Saracens' Gordon Ross.

There are no other major surprises in the backs with Hadden's selections on the wing made easier by the injuries to Nikki Walker and Rory Lamont.

In the pack, Scott Gray maintains his place in the back-row portfolio after returning to the Test scene in November, no doubt helped by the absence through injury of Edinburgh No.7 Ross Rennie.

Craig Hamilton is one of just four specialist locks in the pool owing to Scott MacLeod's ongoing absence and the injury to Edinburgh team-mate Matt Mustchin.

Prop Geoff Cross, 26, who made his Scotland A debut in the November win against Georgia and was also on last summer’s national tour to Argentina, is one of the front-row options, while Dougie Hall gets the nod over Fergus Thomson as back-up hooker.

Hadden said: “I’m delighted by the number of players who are putting up their hands as genuine candidates for international selection.

“The victories of both pro-teams last weekend and the manner in which they achieved their results is also very encouraging as are our ticket sales to date with our home match against Ireland sold-out and now more than 60,000 tickets sold for our opening game against Wales."

Scotland squad for RBS 6 Nations

Backs
Mike Blair (Capt), Ben Cairns (both Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Perpignan), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Thom Evans, Max Evans (both Glasgow Warriors), Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Northampton Saints), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Graeme Morrison, Dan Parks (both Glasgow Warriors), Chris Paterson, Hugo Southwell and Simon Webster (all Edinburgh)

Forwards
John Barclay, Kelly Brown (both Glasgow Warriors), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Scott Gray (Northampton Saints), Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors), Craig Hamilton, Jim Hamilton (both Edinburgh), Nathan Hines (Perpignan), Allister Hogg, Allan Jacobsen (both Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Euan Murray (Northampton Saints), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Simon Taylor (Stade Francais), Jason White (Sale Sharks).