Scotland change captain as Sione Tuipulotu one of 2 ruled out of Six Nations

In a major blow to their Six Nations campaign, Scotland have confirmed that both Sione Tuipulotu and Scott Cummings have been ruled out of the tournament.

A statement reads: “Sione Tuipulotu will miss the tournament after sustaining a pectoral muscle injury during a training session with Glasgow Warriors last week.

“Sione will undergo surgery this week and is expected to return to action before the end of the season.”

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Rory Darge and Finn Russell will co-captain Scotland as a result of Tuipulotu’s injury. The pair previously led Scotland in the 2024 championship, securing a famous win over Wales and a 30-21 victory against England at Murrayfield.

“Scott Cummings sustained an arm fracture during Glasgow Warriors match against Leicester Tigers [sic, Harlequins] at the weekend. He is also likely to miss the tournament and will undergo further review to determine when he will be fit to return.

“There will be no additions to the squad at this point.”

Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith said of the injury: “It was a freakish injury. It was just something that happened. We weren’t suspicious about it, we just wanted to make sure it was nothing serious.”

With Scotland kicking off their Six Nations campaign against Italy in a fortnight, on 1 February, Smith acknowledged that the former Melbourne Rebels’ centre’s absence will impact both the national team and Glasgow.

“It is not just as a player but as a person as well in our environment,” said the head coach. “He has a big input and brings a lot of confidence to people around him.

“I am sure it will be a loss for everyone if that is the case, but I can still think there is enough of the season left that he can still contribute. So we hope it is not such a serious injury.”

While it is hoped the blockbusting centre will return by the end of the season, the injury also throws doubt on his availability for the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia later in the summer.

Meanwhile Cummings, 28, has won 42 caps and started all five games in last year’s Six Nations, as well as their three main autumn Tests.

The Glasgow lock has been in excellent form and will be another big miss, although the return of Jonny Gray for the first time since March 2023 – if the Bordeaux second-row proves his fitness from a recent ankle injury – should help mitigate his absence.

With the equally experienced Grant Gilchrist expected to recover from a recent hand injury, Cummings’ absence could open the way for emerging Glasgow team-mate Gregor Brown – a hybrid forward who can also play at six – to force his way into the 23.

Edinburgh’s Marshall Sykes was the other lock named in Townsend’s Six Nations squad last week.