Cam Redpath, the Bath centre, will come into contention later in the tournament. He is nursing an unspecified leg injury but Townsend hopes he will be available for the third match, against England.

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu has been sidelined from the Six Nations Championship due to a pectoral injury during training. Lock Scott Cummings also faces uncertainty after an arm fracture. Rory Darge and Finn Russell will co-captain Scotland's campaign starting February 1 against Italy.

Sione Tuipulotu has been ruled out for the entire Guinness Six Nations Championship and Scott Cummings is also likely to miss the tournament in what is a double-blow to Scotland’s preparations.

Scotland have suffered a major blow on the eve of their Six Nations campaign, as captain Sione Tuipulotu has been ruled out of the Championship through injury.

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu's participation in the Six Nations has been cast into doubt after her was injured in training with Glasgow Warriors.

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu has been ruled out of the Six Nations tournament after suffering a chest injury in a major blow to his side's title hopes.

Scotland have suffered a major injury blow ahead of the Six Nations, with captain Sione Tuipulotu ruled out out of the competition.

Scotland have suffered a major blow after it was revealed that star centre and captain Sione Tuipulotu will miss the entire Guinness Six Nations because of a chest injury. Tuipulotu is to undergo surgery on the pectoral muscle that was damaged in training for Glasgow Warriors last week and has been ruled out of action until later in the season.

If Scotland’s Six Nations title-winning aspirations are to be taken seriously, this is the game they have to win...

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Darge and Russell jointly lead Scotland in last year’s Six Nations, while the Glasgow Warriors flanker was given the responsibility on his own during the summer tour, only for Gregor Townsend to relieve them of the honour in favour of Tuipulotu in the autumn.