Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu has been ruled out of the 2025 Six Nations after suffering a pectoral muscle injury.
The Glasgow Warriors centre, who was seen as a strong candidate to feature on the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia this summer, suffered the injury during training with his club and is set to undergo surgery this week.
Rory Darge and Finn Russell, who led the side together during last year’s Six Nations, will co-captain in Tuipulotu’s absence.
Finn Russell (L) and Rory Darge captained Scotland in last year’s Six Nations
While Tuipulotu has been ruled out of the tournament, the fact that he is “expected to return to action before the end of the season” should keep alive his hopes of being selected for the Lions.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend lost another member of the 37-player squad he named last week, with second row Scott Cummings having fractured his arm playing for Glasgow and Leicester over the weekend.
A statement from Scottish Rugby confirming the injuries said that no additions would be made to the squad “at this point”, as Townsend prepares his side for their tournament opener at home to Italy on February 1.
Updated Scotland squad
Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Gregor Brown (Glasgow), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Luke Crosbie (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’Arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Dylan Richardson (Sharks), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh).
Backs: Fergus Burke (Saracens), Matt Currie (Edinburgh), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), George Horne (Glasgow), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton), Huw 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 fixtures: Scotland
- February 1: Italy (h)
- February 9: Ireland (h)
- February 22: England (a)
- March 8: Wales (h)
- March 15: France (a)
