Scotland were boosted by the availability of stalwart tight head prop Euan Murray for this Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations encounter against France at Murrayfield.

Murray has yet to feature in the tournament this year due to an injured thumb.

Meanwhile, France hooker Dimitri Szarzewski has become the latest in a long list of French players who will be unable to play in the match. He misses out due to an ankle injury.

This means that France will fielding their third choice hooker on Saturday.

Euan Murray back in the Scotland squad to face France

Fit-again tight-head prop Euan Murray has been added to the Scotland squad ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations game against France at Murrayfield.

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The 33-year-old Worcester Warriors forward has missed the opening three games of the campaign through injury.

Murray, who won the last of his 58 caps against Australia in November, was sidelined with a thumb problem.

Edinburgh Rugby’s Sean Kennedy and his half-back partner Harry Leonard are also training with the squad.

Murray made his club comeback against Sale on 22 February and came on in the second half in last Saturday’s defeat by Harlequins.

The Scots lost their opening two games of this year’s competition – to Ireland and England – but won their last match against Italy by one point.

Scotland squad

Forwards: Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross, David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (all Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant, Jonny Gray (both Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Montpellier), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Moray Low, Pat MacArthur (both Glasgow Warriors), Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Tim Swinson and Ryan Wilson (both Glasgow Warriors).

Backs: Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Cuthbert, Nick De Luca (both Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Max Evans (Castres), Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson (both Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens) and Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors).

France’s Szarzewski ruled out of clash against Scotland

France will be without their two first-choice hookers when they face Scotland on Saturday after Dimitri Szarzewski picked up an ankle injury.

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Les Bleus were already without Clermont Auvergne’s Benjamin Kayser, who was ruled out for six weeks last month with a knee problem.

Perpignan’s Guilhem Guirado has replaced Szarzewski, injured playing for Racing Metro, in the French squad.

Guirado, 27, won the last of his 18 caps in June against New Zealand.

France had already called Castres wing Marc Andreu into their squad after Clermont half-back Morgan Parra was given a two-match suspension.

Parra had been recalled by coach Philippe Saint-Andre and was expected to play a major part at Murrayfield despite failing to make an appearance in the Six Nations so far this year.

However, the Ligue De National Rugby ruled on Friday that the 25-year-old must serve a two-match ban following his red card for his club side the previous weekend.

Parra should return for France’s final Six Nations match against Ireland on 15 March, but 28-year-old Andreu has been drafted into the squad in his place and could win his eighth cap.

Clermont centre Wesley Fofana was ruled out of the match against Scotland after fracturing a rib during France’s defeat by Wales.

Louis Picamoles, who was dropped for mocking the referee during that loss, and injured fellow Toulouse forward Yannick Nyanga will also not play against Scotland.

Prop Rabah Slimani, flankers Bernard Le Roux and Antonie Claassen and centre Remi Lamerat were also called up to the squad following the defeat in Cardiff.

France are tied with holders Wales, Ireland and England on four points after three matches, while the Scots recorded their first Six Nations win away to Italy.

France squad

Backs: Marc Andreu (Castres), Hugo Bonneval (Stade Français Paris), Brice Dulin (Castres Olympique), Yoann Huget (Stade Toulousain), Maxime Medard (Stade Toulousain); Mathieu Bastereaud (Toulon), Gaël Fickou (Stade Toulousain), Rémi Lamerat (Castres Olympique), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon); Jules Plisson (Stade Français Paris), Rémi Tales (Castres Olympique); Jean-Marc Doussain (Stade Toulousain), Maxime Machenaud (Racing Métro 92),

Forwards: Vincent Debaty (Clermont Auvergne), Thomas Domingo (Clermont Auvergne), Yannick Forestier (Castres Olympique), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Rabah Slimani (Stade Français); Brice Mach (Castres Olympique), Guilhem Guirado (Perpignan); Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Français Paris), Yoann Maestri (Stade Toulousain), Pascal Pape (Stade Français Paris, capt), Sébastien Vahaamahina (Perpignan); Virgile Bruni (Toulon), Alexandre Lapandry (Clermont Auvergne), Wenceslas Lauret (Racing Métro 92), Bernard Le Roux (Racing Métro 92), Damien Chouly (Clermont Auvergne), Antonie Claassen (Castres Olympique).

Scotland team to face France