Nathan McBeth, George Turner, Gregor Brown and Jamie Ritchie all come into starting XV
The Scotland Six Nations 2026 squad head into their Calcutta Cup match against England under considerable pressure, having lost their opening game to Italy last weekend. Head coach Gregor Townsend has subsequently made some big changes to his starting line-up, with four new additions selected in the pack.
Nathan McBeth and George Turner come in at loosehead and hooker, respectively, with Gregor Brown picked in the second row and Jamie Ritchie getting the nod over Matt Fagerson at blindside flanker.
Zander Fagerson continues at tighthead, with Scott Cummings keeping his place at lock. Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey remain at openside flanker and number 8, respectively.
Townsend has kept faith with his backs division, meaning no return for Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van der Merwe, who were surprisingly omitted from the matchday squad to face Italy.
Tom Jordan plays at full-back, while in-form utility back Jamie Dobie and Steyn start on the wings. The midfield continues to have a heavy British & Irish Lions contingent, with scrum-half Ben White, talismanic fly-half Finn Russell, and the familiar centre partnership of Huw Jones and captain Sione Tuipulotu.
Townsend has stuck with a 5-3 split on the bench. Dave Cherry comes into the matchday 23 to provide cover at hooker, with Pierre Schoeman and Elliot Millar Miles as the replacement props. They’re joined among the substitutes by Max Williamson, Matt Fagerson, George Horne, Adam Hastings and Darcy Graham.
Scotland v England kicks off at 4.40pm GMT on Saturday 14 February, with live coverage on ITVX and ITV1 in the UK, and Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Play in Ireland.
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 (5-3 split):
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