Scotland Six Nations 2026 squad: Townsend makes three changes for Triple Crown decider

The Scotland Six Nations 2026 squad head into Super Saturday in unfamiliar territory – they know that if they win against Ireland, they’ll not only take home the Triple Crown, they’ll be in with a chance of claiming their first title of the Six Nations era.

Following his side’s spectacular 50-40 victory over France last weekend, head coach Gregor Townsend has been forced into a couple of changes. Locks Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings, so impressive throughout the tournament, are injured, meaning that Max Williamson and Grant Gilchrist start in Dublin. He’s also restored Zander Fagerson at tighthead, with D’arcy Rae dropping to the bench.

That means a front row of Fagerson, Pierre Schoeman and George Turner, ahead of Williamson and Gilchrist. The back row is unchanged, with Jack Dempsey at number 8, and Rory Darge and Matt Fagerson at flanker.

The backs division is unchanged. Blair Kinghorn continues at full-back, behind the familiar centre partnership of Huw Jones and captain Sione Tuipulotu. Kyle Steyn and Darcy Graham (who’s now pulled ahead of Duhan van der Merwe in Scotland’s all-time try-scoring charts) are on the wings.

The talismanic Finn Russell continues at fly-half, alongside scrum-half Ben White.

Townsend has returned to a 5-3 split on the bench. Scotland’s replacements line-up is Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, D’arcy Rae, Alex Craig, Magnus Bradbury, George Horne, Kyle Rowe and Tom Jordan.

Ireland v Scotland kicks off at 2.10pm GMT on Saturday 14 March, with live coverage on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK, and Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Play in Ireland.

Scotland Six Nations team v Ireland – round 5

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

1. Pierre Schoeman
2. George Turner
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Max Williamson
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Matt Fagerson
7. Rory Darge (vice-captain)
8. Jack Dempsey

Replacements:
16. Ewan Ashman
17. Rory Sutherland
18. D’arcy Rae
19. Alex Craig
20. Magnus Bradbury
21. George Horne
22. Kyle Rowe
23. Tom Jordan

Scotland Six Nations team v France – round 4

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

1. Pierre Schoeman
2. George Turner
3. D’arcy Rae
4. Gregor Brown
5. Scott Cummings
6. Matt Fagerson
7. Rory Darge (vice-captain)
8. Jack Dempsey

Replacements:
16. Ewan Ashman
17. Rory Sutherland
18. Zander Fagerson
19. Grant Gilchrist
20. Freddy Douglas
21. Josh Bayliss
22. George Horne
23. Tom Jordan

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 (24): 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), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), Seb Stephen (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), George Turner (Harlequins), Murphy Walker (Glasgow Warriors), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors)

Backs (17): Fergus Burke (Saracens), 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), Ben White (Toulon), Gus Warr (Sale Sharks)

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