Sione Out for the Tournament
Scotland’s 2025 Six Nations preparations have taken a hefty knock with the news that team captain Sione Tuipulotu will miss the entire championship through injury. The dynamic centre suffered a torn pectoral muscle during training with Glasgow Warriors last week ahead of their European fixture last weekend and now faces surgery, which will sideline him for around four months.
It’s a cruel blow for both player and team, as Tuipulotu was once again poised to be the key figure in Scotland’s midfield, building on his strong performances last year as a link between Finn Russell and the outside backs. It may also impact his Lions chances without a chance to showcase his merits, though he should be fit in time for the tour.
It says a lot about his qualities that the news of his injury was greeted with universal dismay in the ranks of Scotland fans whilst relief elsewhere. Sione was seen as key to our chances of (finally) making a dent in the tournament, but hopefully it isn’t game over just yet, if someone steps up in a major way.
Gregor Townsend must now reshuffle his plans, with Finn Russell and Rory Darge stepping in as co-captains for the tournament. The duo brings leadership experience, having co-captained the side during last year’s campaign.
Meanwhile, Tuipulotu’s absence opens up opportunities for others to shine in the midfield. His regular Glasgow backup Stafford McDowall is tipped to step up alongside Huw Jones, with his defensive steel and strong leadership credentials making him a prime candidate while Rory Hutchinson had a very strong showing for Saints against Munster at the weekend and would relish a longed-for run of games for the national side.
Lock Scott Cummings was injured in the Harlequins game and has been diagnosed with an arm fracture. He is also likely to miss the tournament and will undergo further review to determine when he will be fit to return.
With one more round of URC action still to come, no new players are being called up to the squad at this point which makes the cupboard look a little barer at lock than it does at centre. So much so that Jonny Gray now looks like the mature choice to partner Grant Gilchrist despite not featuring for Scotland since 2023.
Who would you pick as your lock and centre pairings?
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