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Townsend Names Scotland Squad

Head coach Gregor Townsend has named his squad to face Italy in Rome this Saturday as Scotland begin their 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations championship – kick-off 2:10pm, live on BBC One.

Sione Tuipulotu, who will captain during this year’s competition, is joined by Huw Jones in a familiar centre partnership, in what will be the 18th Test match that the pair have joined forces.

Jamie Dobie earns a first Six Nations start after being named on the left wing, with Kyle Steyn on the right and Tom Jordan selected at full-back. Scrum-half Ben White and Finn Russell once more reprise their half-back combination, with the stand-off also listed as one of two vice-captains at Stadio Olimpico.

In the forwards, Zander Fagerson packs down at tighthead prop with Pierre Schoeman at loosehead and Ewan Ashman, who last year became Scotland’s all-time leading male try-scoring forward, is named at hooker.

Scott Cummings, who missed last year’s championship through injury, returns to Six Nations action alongside Grant Gilchrist in the second row. Rory Darge, another of Tuipulotu’s vice-captains, starts at openside flanker, with Matt Fagerson at blindside and Jack Dempsey, who is named at number 8, completing a back row who have featured as a trio on numerous occasions for club and country.

On the bench, hooker George Turner, who won a 50th cap against Tonga in November, is named alongside props Nathan McBeth and Elliot Millar Mills, with Max Williamson covering the second row and the versatile Gregor Brown completing the forward replacements. Scotland’s matchday 23 is rounded off with backs replacements George Horne (scrum-half), Adam Hastings (stand-off) and Darcy Graham (wing).

Scotland team to face Italy in the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations at Stadio Olimpico, Rome, on Saturday 7 February 2026, kick-off 2:10pm – live on BBC One (caps in brackets):

15. Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (12)

14. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (28)

13. Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (58)

12. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors (33) – Captain

11. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (17)

10. Finn Russell – Bath Rugby (89) – Vice-Captain

9. Ben White – Toulon (31)

1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (44)

2. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (32)

3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (76)

4. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (45)

5. Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (84)

6. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (59)

7. Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors (34) – Vice-Captain

8. Jack Dempsey -–Glasgow Warriors (29)

Replacements

16. George Turner – Harlequins (50)

17. Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (5)

18. Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints (11)

19. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (9)

20. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (12)

21. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (40)

22. Adam Hastings – Glasgow Warriors (35)

23. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (50)

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