Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu has been ruled out of the 2025 Six Nations with a pectoral muscle injury.
The Glasgow Warriors centre, who was seen as a strong candidate for this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, suffered the injury in training with his club and is set to undergo surgery this week.
Rory Darge and Finn Russell, who captained the team together during last year’s Six Nations, will fill in for Tuipulotu’s absence.
Finn Russell (L) and Rory Darg captained Scotland in last year’s Six Nations
While Tuypulotu has been ruled out of the tournament, the fact that he is “expected to be back before the end of the season” should keep his hopes of selection for the Lions alive.
Scotland boss Gregor Townsend lost another member of the 37-man squad he named last week when second-row Scott Cummings broke his arm while playing in Glasgow and Leicester at the weekend.
A Scottish Rugby statement confirming the injuries said there would be no additions to the squad “at this time” as Townsend prepares his side for their tournament opener against Italy on February 1.
Updated Scotland squad
Attackers. Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Gregor Brown (Glasgow), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Luke Crosby (Edinburgh), Rory Darge (Glasgow)Jack Dempsey (Glasgow), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), Will Hurd (Leicester), Jack Mann (Glasgow), D. Arcee Rae (Edinburgh), Dylan Richardson (Sharks), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Pierre Chauman (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh).
Backs. Fergus Burke (Saracens), Matt Curry (Edinburgh), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), George Horne (Glasgow), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton), Hugh Jones (Glasgow), Tom Jordan (Glasgow), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow), Finn Russell (Bath)Kyle Rowe (Glasgow), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (Toulon).
Six Nations 2025 games. Scotland
- February 1 Italy (h)
- February 9 Ireland (h)
- February 22 England (a)
- March 8 Wales (h)
- March 15 France (a)
