Scotland Announce Starting XV for Six Nations Opener

Scotland has announced its starting XV for the Six Nations opener against Italy, with Finn Russell and Rory Darge named as co-captains. Check out the full team lineup.

Stafford McDowall will earn his ninth cap for Scotland at inside centre in their Six Nations opener against Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday, replacing injured captain Sione Tuipulotu. Tuipulotu is expected to miss the entire competition, dealing a significant blow to coach Gregor Townsend. McDowall will partner Huw Jones in the midfield, with an experienced backline surrounding him.

The Scottish backline features Blair Kinghorn at fullback, with Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham on the wings. Co-captain Finn Russell is at flyhalf, paired with Ben White in the halfback pairing. In the pack, Matt Fagerson is at number eight, with flankers Rory Darge and Jamie Ritchie in the back row. The lock pairing consists of Jonny Gray and Grant Gilchrist, while hooker Dave Cherry is flanked by props Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson.

Townsend praised the experience and motivation of his players, saying, “They bring experience and a real motivation to play well. The Scotland jersey brings that out in you.” Scotland is seeking to lift the Six Nations trophy for the first time since 1999. Townsend acknowledged the challenge posed by Italy, stating, “Getting to start at home is massive and it has been a good training week. Italy are a quality side and have shown that for two or three years.”

Townsend expressed his respect for Italy's abilities, saying, “They have been a difficult opponent for us and other teams. They really upped their game in last year's Six Nations with two wins and a draw, and one of those victories was against us, so they will be confident. There is intelligence in how they play, when they look after the ball, when they move it. They are a quality side and play with a lot of passion.”

Scotland's Starting XV Announced

The starting lineup for Scotland's upcoming match has been revealed, with Blair Kinghorn taking the full-back position. The back three is completed by wingers Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe. Huw Jones and Stafford McDowall form the centre partnership, while Finn Russell, the co-captain, starts at fly-half alongside scrum-half Ben White.

Forward Pack and Captains Named

The forward pack features a strong combination of experience and talent. Matt Fagerson starts at number 8, with Rory Darge, the co-captain, and Jamie Ritchie completing the back row. The second row consists of Grant Gilchrist and Jonny Gray, while the front row is made up of Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry, and Zander Fagerson.

Your Scotland squad for the 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

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Replacements Named for Scotland

The replacements bench for Scotland has also been announced. Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, and Will Hurd provide cover in the front row, while Gregor Brown and Jack Dempsey offer options in the back five. George Horne, Tom Jordan, and Kyle Rowe complete the replacements, offering versatility and depth for Scotland.