MUSSELBURGH-born centre Huw Jones will start Scotland's Six Nations opener with Ireland at BT Murrayfield on Saturday.

Jones has been named at outside centre by head coach Vern Cotter, himself an East Lothian resident, and will win his fourth cap.

The 23-year-old lived in the Honest Toun for two years before moving to England and on to South Africa, where he plays his club rugby for the Stormers.

His availability had been in doubt after an ankle injury picked up in the win over Argentina in November, but earlier this week, Scotland assistant Jason O'Halloran confirmed Jones was fit to play.

He joins Alex Dunbar in midfield, while Greig Laidlaw will captain the side.

Ahead of his final campaign in charge of the national side Cotter, who is joining Montpellier in the summer, is looking forward to the Six Nations.

He said: "Facing Ireland first up doesn’t get much harder.

“They are at the top of their game and will come here with confidence after beating some of the best teams in the world, including the All Blacks and Wallabies and having won the tournament twice in the past three years.”

Elsewhere on Friday evening, Chris Dean, Tom Brown and Lewis Carmichael, all from North Berwick, are all in the Edinburgh Rugby squad to face Munster.

Dean and Brown start the match, while Carmichael is among the replacements for the Myreside clash.

Scotland's match with Ireland is at 2.25pm on Saturday.