Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has released seven players from an extended training squad ahead of next month's World Cup.

Five Edinburgh players — wings Dougie Fife and Damien Hoyland, prop Allan Dell, lock Ben Toolis and back-row forward Hamish Watson — are no longer required during the World Cup preparations, along with Glasgow wing Rory Hughes and his colleague, prop Mike Cusack.

Cotter’s announcement comes prior to next Saturday’s third World Cup warm-up fixture, when Italy arrive at Murrayfield. He will reveal his final 31-man World Cup squad on September 1st.

Cusack and Hughes both started in the 16-12 victory against Italy in Turin two days ago, while Hoyland and Watson also featured.

Elsewhere, Glasgow hooker Kevin Bryce, who joined the Scotland squad last week as precautionary cover, has also returned to his club.

And Cotter confirmed that back-row forward Josh Strauss is back with Glasgow with a view to gaining more game-time before being considered for the final World Cup squad.

The training squad, minus Strauss, will now embark on a four-day camp at the University of St Andrews prior to the Italy return fixture.

“I would like to thank the players for all their hard work throughout what has been a very tough pre-season campaign,” Cotter said.

“Their commitment to improving as individuals and to our collective endeavour has been exceptional and has made this a very tough decision.

“They are understandably disappointed to miss out at this stage. However, they have done themselves proud with their performances in training and the two Test matches (against Ireland and Italy).

"The nature of Test rugby is that we may need to call upon any of these players at any given time during our journey to, and through, what will be a very tough Rugby World Cup campaign, so we will continue to monitor their performances at club level very closely."

Scotland face Italy and France in remaining warm-up encounters, while their opening World Cup pool game is against Japan in Gloucester on September 23rd.