The Scotland Six Nations 2026 squad travels to Italy for their championship opener knowing that they’ve never finished higher than third since the competition expanded in 2000. However, head coach Gregor Townsend will be hoping that his talented group of players has what it takes to make life difficult for England, Ireland and France at the top of the table.

A rib injury to flanker Liam McConnell has prompted his return to his club, Edinburgh, and there are also fitness concerns over hooker Dave Cherry and utility back Jamie Dobie. Glasgow Warriors’ Gregor Hiddleston and Sale Sharks’ Gus Warr have been drafted into the 41-man squad as cover.

Elsewhere there’s a recall for France-based Jonny Gray, while star fly-half Finn Russell will be backed up by Glasgow Warriors’ Adam Hastings and Fergus Burke of Saracens.

Centre Sione Tuipulotu will continue to captain the side and likely play next to Glasgow teammate Huw Jones while scrum-half will be a battle between Ben White, George Horne, Warr and Dobie, the latter also impressing recently on the wing.

• Read more: How to watch the Six Nations 2026 from anywhere

Bookmark this page for details of the Scotland Six Nations 2026 squad as and when it’s announced by Townsend. We’ll also be updating it with team news for every Scotland match in this year’s tournament, and if you want to look back on last year, scroll down to see every Scotland line-up from last season.

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

• Read more: Men’s Six Nations fixtures 2026

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