World Cup - Phil Goodman, Donny Macfadyen and Johnny Beattie have failed to make the provisional Scotland squad for the World Cup later this year.

The trio were left out of Frank Hadden's squad despite featuring for Scotland A in the recent Churchill Cup.

In naming his 38-man training squad for the autumn tournament in France, Hadden has called up five uncapped players in centre Calum MacRae, prop Al Dickinson, utility back Nick de Luca, winger Thom Evans and flanker John Barclay.

"There was a great deal of discussion over the selection for every section of the squad, however we did spend longer talking about the back row and the back-three, said Hadden.

"You have to make difficult and tough decisions and in the case of Macfadyen, the main factor behind his omission was that he has not had a lot of opportunities in the season just past.

"He played for the full 80 minutes only three times and that is not enough to show what a player is capable of.

"I have stuck to the adage which suggests that if you are in doubt, you stick with men who are showing consistent form."

Beattie (pictured) was in the Scotland side for the last Six Nations game with France but has suffered due to the choice of number eights available to Hadden, which include Simon Taylor, Ally Hogg, David Callam and Kelly Brown.

"It was always going to be difficult for him to make the side, added Hadden.

"By playing him in all three Churchill Cup games we have him every chance to force our hand - but the fact is that we have four other guys who can play at number eight."

In dropping Goodman, Hadden has given a vote of confidence to Gordon Ross, who plays for French side Castres.

"Gordon never loses his awareness of how to control a team, Hadden explained.

"We often need a number 10 who can make decisions on the hoof, and in my experience Gordon is always able to organise a side.

The 38 players will now undergo a five-week strength and conditioning camp under fitness director Mark Bitcom, before Hadden cuts his squad to 30 in mid-August in accordance with World Cup requirements.

Squad

Backs: Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Border Reivers), Nick De Luca (Border Reivers), Rob Dewey (Edinburgh), Marcus Di Rollo (Edinburgh), Thom Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Andy Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Northampton), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Calum MacRae (Border Reivers), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Gordon Ross (Castres), Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh), Nikki Walker (Ospreys), Simon Webster (Edinburgh).

Forwards: John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), Kelly Brown (Border Reivers), Dave Callam (Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (Border Reivers), Dougie Hall (Edinburgh), Jim Hamilton (Leicester), Nathan Hines (Perpignan), Allister Hogg (Edinburgh), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Gavin Kerr (Border Reivers), Scott Lawson (Glasgow Warriors), Scott MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets), Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Murray (Edinburgh), Craig Smith (Edinburgh), Alasdair Strokosch (Edinburgh), Simon Taylor (Edinburgh), Jason White (Sale Sharks).