Rory Hutchinson recognises 'big opportunity' with Lion injured

Rory Hutchinson is determined to seize his belated opportunity to start establishing himself in Gregor Townsend’s Scotland team in the absence of Huw Jones.

The Northampton centre made his debut in 2019 but has had a stop-start international career, restricted to just 10 caps. Hutchinson’s chances with Scotland appeared to have faded when he made no appearances for three years between the summer tours of 2022 and 2025.

But after earning a late call-up to join Townsend’s team in the South Pacific earlier this year, the 29-year-old started last weekend’s defeat by New Zealand at Murrayfield with British and Irish Lions tourist Jones out until the new year with an Achilles injury.

“I’ve been involved in the set-up for a while now,” said Hutchinson. “I’ve had a few opportunities here and there. To get to run out last weekend there, you dream of it. Hopefully that has given me more motivation to try and do it a bit more often. I really enjoyed the opportunity.”

Hutchinson acknowledged the fact Jones has been in such good form has not helped his cause with Scotland – “of course, he’s a Test Lion” – but he views the Glasgow centre’s absence as an opportunity to stake a claim.

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“It’s tough,” said Hutchinson, hoping to keep his place for Sunday’s visit of Argentina. “We’ve got some serious talent in that centre role in the squad, but I think it makes us all better players.

“I’ve had to wait. Sometimes maybe I haven’t been as consistent and as good as what I thought.

“But it’s been important that I’ve stuck at it and worked hard with my coaches both here and at my club, and I feel like that’s putting me in the best light going forward.

“At Northampton the reason I made my debut was because of injury (to someone else). That’s just part of the sport – people get injured, people have to step up, that’s when you get your opportunity.

“So when I heard about that (Jones injury) and came into camp, I knew this was a big opportunity for me to put my hand up and say ‘I’m here’.”

Hutchinson’s struggle to assert himself in Townsend’s squad is highlighted by the number of caps several of his age-group peers have accumulated.

“I did Under-18s and did three years at 20s (with Scotland) and then when I came into this group, it was so good because there’s so many of my year at 20s here, which made it so easy for me to slot in,” he said.

“When you see those lads progressing, it kind of gives you that motivation. It’s like, ‘I want to be doing what they’re doing’.

“Look at someone like Zander Fagerson – 75 caps. That’s incredible. And we were together at 20s.

“I played with Jamie Ritchie, Blair Kinghorn, Adam Hastings, Scott Cummings, so that gives me a load of motivation when I come into camp, seeing how these boys have done well. It’s not the fact I’ve been left behind, but I want to have the success they’ve had.”