Scotland leave out Kinghorn, Graham, Van der Merwe for Italy opener

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British and Irish Lion Blair Kinghorn has been dropped for Scotland’s Six
Nations opener against Italy on Saturday with Tom Jordan taking his place.

Scotland open their Six Nations campaign with a return to Rome for the first time since their disappointing defeat there in March 2024 and will be looking for a strong start to improve on their fourth-placed finish last year.

Jordan has earned a starting berth at full-back with Kinghorn dropped from the matchday squad by head coach Gregor Townsend.

Jamie Dobie has been handed a first Six Nations start and will line up on the wing opposite Kyle Steyn, with the Glasgow pair preferred to Edinburgh’s Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe who have both been struggling for form recently.

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Graham has been named on bench but there is no place in the 23 for Scotland’s leading tryscorer Van der Merwe, who was dropped in the autumn following a dip in form since his involvement with the Lions last summer.

There was some concern over the fitness of Jack Dempsey after he suffered a foot injury but he has been selected to start at No 8.

Scotland team to face Italy

Scotland: 15 Tom Jordan, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (c), 11 Jamie Dobie, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 Zander Fagerson,4 Scott Cummings, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Matt Fagerson,7 Rory ​Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey,

Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 George Horne, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Darcy ‍Graham.

Scotland’s Six Nations 2026 Fixtures

  • Italy – Stadio Olimpico – Saturday February 7 – 2.10pm (GMT)
  • England – Murrayfield – Saturday February 14 – 4.40pm (GMT)
  • Wales – Principality Stadium – Saturday February 21 – 4.40pm (GMT)
  • France – Murrayfield – Saturday March 7 – 2.10pm (GMT)
  • Ireland – Aviva Stadium – Saturday March 14 – 2.10pm (GMT)

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com

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