All of course have been regulars in their countries' Autumn international and RBS Six Nations squads in recent seasons but all will be delighted to make the final cut.
Scotland Head Coach Andy Robinson is in high spirits:
"What I've seen from the squad is a tremendous team spirit, a great courage for the way they've worked together and I'm delighted to be head coach of this squad.
"I know they're going to go and do Scotland proud. I have no doubt about that.
"I'd like to thank every single one of them for the work they've done so far. It's now about getting in the starting XV."
Scotland squad:
Backs:
Joe Ansbro (London Irish), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Max Evans (Castres), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Lamont (Toulon), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh).
Forwards:
John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Sale Sharks), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Richie Gray, Dougie Hall (both Glasgow Warriors), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Nathan Hines (Clermont Auvergne), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock (captain, Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks)
Meanwhile, England Team Manager, Martin Johnson, today announced the 30-man squad that will travel to New Zealand for next month's Rugby World Cup.
Captain, Lewis Moody, will lead the side into the tournament where they face Argentina (September 10), Georgia (September 18), Romania (September 24) and Scotland (October 1) in the pool stages.
The squad, made up of 17 forwards and 13 backs, has a blend of experience and youth ranging from Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon), who is heading to his fourth World Cup, to London Wasps scrum half Joe Simpson, who is the only uncapped player. Simon Shaw, at 37, is the oldest player and Manu Tuilagi, at 20, the youngest.
Eleven have featured in previous tournaments, five were World Cup winners in 2003 and eight appeared in the 2007 final.
On naming his squad Martin Johnson said: "The composition of the squad is very important and we think we have the right mix in this group. There were some very tough phone calls made last week; everybody came into this camp and worked extremely hard and some players have just missed out.
"For us now though it is important to look forward - there is great sense of unity in this group and we are pleased with the depth across the squad.
"We have a number of leaders and experienced players and have named Lewis Moody as squad captain, we are confident he will play a pivotal role for us in New Zealand.
"Ultimately our aim this week is to prepare well for Ireland and to continue improving as a team. We are all looking forward to the tournament and know that selecting the 30 man squad is just the beginning."
England complete their build-up preparations against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday, August 27 (2.30pm).
England squad:
Forwards:
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Ricoh Black Rams), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Lee Mears (Bath Rugby), Lewis Moody (Bath Rugby), Tom Palmer (Stade Francais), Simon Shaw (Unattached), Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks), Matt Stevens (Saracens), Steve Thompson (London Wasps), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Backs:
Delon Armitage (London Irish), Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints), Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby), Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), Shontayne Hape (London Irish), Joe Simpson (London Wasps), Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
