Scotland Six Nations 2026 squad: Kinghorn and van der Merwe return to face Wales

The Scotland Six Nations 2026 squad will be on a high after last weekend’s Calcutta Cup win over England, but head coach Gregor Townsend isn’t resting on his laurels for his team’s trip to Cardiff.

He’s made five changes to the starting line-up that was so impressive in Edinburgh, most notably recalling British & Irish Lions backs Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van der Merwe for their first appearances of this year’s championship. Hooker Dave Cherry is promoted to the starting line-up having started on the bench on Saturday, as are second row Max Williamson and number 8 Matt Fagerson.

Kinghorn and van der Merwe slot into their usual positions at full-back and wing, respectively, with Kyle Steyn continuing on the other side of the back three. The familiar centre partnership of Huw Jones and captain Sione Tuipulotu resume their partnership in midfield, outside talismanic fly-half Finn Russell and scrum-half Ben White.

In the front row, Cherry lines up alongside Nathan McBeth and Zander Fagerson, while Williamson partners Scott Cummings in the pack’s engine room. Gregor Brown moves back to blindside flanker, with Rory Darge and Matt Fagerson completing the back row.

Townsend has stuck with a 5-3 split on the bench. George Turner, Pierre Schoeman, Elliot Millar Mills, Grant Gilchrist and Josh Bayliss provide forward cover, with George Horne, Tom Jordan and Darcy Graham the substitute backs.

Wales v Scotland kicks off at 4.40pm GMT on Saturday 21 February, with free live coverage on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Play in Ireland.

Scotland Six Nations team v Wales – round 3

15. Blair Kinghorn
14. Kyle Steyn
13. Huw Jones
12. Sione Tuipulotu (captain)
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell (vice-captain)
9. Ben White

1. Nathan McBeth
2. Dave Cherry
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Max Williamson
5. Scott Cummings
6. Gregor Brown
7. Rory Darge (vice-captain)
8. Matt Fagerson

Replacements:
16. George Turner
17. Pierre Schoeman
18. Elliot Millar Mills
19. Grant Gilchrist
20. Josh Bayliss
21. George Horne
22. Tom Jordan
23. Darcy Graham

Scotland Six Nations team v England – round 2

15. Tom Jordan
14. Kyle Steyn
13. Huw Jones
12. Sione Tuipulotu (captain)
11. Jamie Dobie
10. Finn Russell (vice-captain)
9. Ben White

1. Nathan McBeth
2. George Turner
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Gregor Brown
5. Scott Cummings
6. Jamie Ritchie
7. Rory Darge (vice-captain)
8. Jack Dempsey

Replacements:
16. Dave Cherry
17. Pierre Schoeman
18. Elliot Millar Mills
19. Max Williamson
20. Matt Fagerson
21. George Horne
22. Adam Hastings
23. Darcy Graham

Scotland Six Nations team v Italy – round 1

15. Tom Jordan
14. Kyle Steyn
13. Huw Jones
12. Sione Tuipulotu (captain)
11. Jamie Dobie
10. Finn Russell (vice-captain)
9. Ben White

1. Pierre Schoeman
2. Ewan Ashman
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Scott Cummings
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Matt Fagerson
7. Rory Darge (vice-captain)
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 Six Nations squad: Townsend’s 41-man squad

Forwards (23): Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby), Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby), Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Dave Cherry (Vannes), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Craig (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors), Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Jonny Gray (Union Bordeaux Bègles), Gregor Hiddleston (Glasgow Warriors), Nathan McBeth (Glasgow Warriors), Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton Saints), D’arcy Rae (Edinburgh Rugby), Jamie Ritchie (Perpignan), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), George Turner (Harlequins), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors).

Backs (18): Fergus Burke (Saracens), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Tom Jordan (Bristol Bears), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Bath Rugby), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby), Gus Warr (Sale Sharks), Ben White (Toulon).

Scotland Six Nations squad: 2026 fixtures at a glance

• Sat 7 February, Italy v Scotland (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Stadio Olimpico, Rome) Live on the BBC in the UK
• Sat 14 February, Scotland v England (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh) Live on ITV in the UK
• Sat 21 February, Wales v Scotland (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Principality Stadium, Cardiff) Live on the BBC in the UK
• Sat 7 March, Scotland v France (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh) Live on the BBC in the UK
• Sat 14 March, Ireland v Scotland (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Aviva Stadium, Dublin) Live on ITV in the UK

Scotland Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2025

Round 1: v Italy (Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh)

Result: Scotland 31-19 Italy

Starting XV:
15. Blair Kinghorn
14. Darcy Graham
13. Huw Jones
12. Stafford McDowall
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell (co-captain)
9. Ben White

1. Pierre Schoeman
2. Dave Cherry
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Jonny Gray
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Jamie Ritchie
7. Rory Darge (co-captain)
8. Matt Fagerson

Replacements:
16. Ewan Ashman
17. Rory Sutherland
18. Will Hurd
19. Gregor Brown
20. Jack Dempsey
21. George Horne
22. Tom Jordan
23. Kyle Rowe

Round 2: v Ireland (Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh)

Result: Scotland 18-32 Ireland

Starting XV:
15. Blair Kinghorn
14. Darcy Graham
13. Huw Jones
12. Tom Jordan
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell (co-captain)
9. Ben White

1. Rory Sutherland
2. Dave Cherry
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Jonny Gray
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Matt Fagerson
7. Rory Darge (co-captain)
8. Jack Dempsey

Replacements:
16. Ewan Ashman
17. Pierre Schoeman
18. Will Hurd
19. Sam Skinner
20. Gregor Brown
21. Jamie Ritchie
22. Jamie Dobie
23. Stafford McDowall

Round 3: v England (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)

Result: England 16-15 Scotland

Starting XV:
15. Blair Kinghorn
14. Kyle Rowe
13. Huw Jones
12. Tom Jordan
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell (co-captain)
9. Ben White

1. Pierre Schoeman
2. Dave Cherry
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Jonny Gray
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Jamie Ritchie
7. Rory Darge (co-captain)
8. Jack Dempsey

Replacements:
16. Ewan Ashman
17. Jamie Bhatti
18. Will Hurd
19. Sam Skinner
20. Gregor Brown
21. Matt Fagerson
22. Jamie Dobie
23. Stafford McDowall

Round 4: v Wales (Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh)

Result: Scotland 35-29 Wales

Starting XV:
15. Blair Kinghorn
14. Darcy Graham
13. Huw Jones
12. Tom Jordan
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell (co-captain)
9. Ben White

1. Pierre Schoeman
2. Dave Cherry
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Jonny Gray
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Jamie Ritchie
7. Rory Darge (co-captain)
8. Jack Dempsey

Replacements:
16. Ewan Ashman
17. Rory Sutherland
18. Will Hurd
19. Gregor Brown
20. Matt Fagerson
21. George Horne
22. Stafford McDowall
23. Kyle Rowe

Round 5: v France (Stade de France, Paris)

Result: France 35-16 Scotland

Starting XV:
15. Blair Kinghorn
14. Darcy Graham
13. Huw Jones
12. Tom Jordan
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell (co-captain)
9. Ben White

1. Pierre Schoeman
2. Dave Cherry
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Gregor Brown
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Jamie Ritchie
7. Rory Darge (co-captain)
8. Matt Fagerson

Replacements:
16. Ewan Ashman
17. Rory Sutherland
18. Will Hurd
19. Ewan Johnson
20. Marshall Sykes
21. Ben Muncaster
22. Jamie Dobie
23. Stafford McDowall