Rory Sutherland and Jack Dempsey also come into the XV to face the reigning champions

Gregor Townsend has made three changes to his starting Six Nations 2025 team to face reigning champions Ireland in Edinburgh. Tom Jordan makes his first ever championship start at inside centre, where he’ll partner last week’s hat-trick hero Huw Jones in the absence of the injured Sione Tuipulotu. Stafford McDowall drops to the bench.

In the pack, Rory Sutherland gets the nod over Pierre Schoeman at loosehead (Schoeman has been named as a replacement), while Jack Dempsey comes in at number 8. Matt Fagerson shifts across the back row to blindside flanker, with last week’s number 6, Jamie Ritchie, among the substitutes.

Alongside Jordan, Townsend keeps faith with a tried-and-tested unit of backs. Blair Kinghorn continues at full-back, with Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe on the wings. Ben White is chosen at scrum-half, next to Finn Russell (who also co-captains) at stand-off.

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Up front, Dave Cherry and Zander Fagerson pack down next to Sutherland at hooker and tighthead, respectively, with Jonny Gray and Grant Gilchrist powering the second row. Co-captain Rory Darge completes the back row with Matt Fagerson and Dempsey.

Scotland have also reshuffled their bench, moving to a 6-2 split for the visit of Ireland. Ewan Ashman, Shoeman and Will Hurd provide front row cover, alongside locks Sam Skinner and Gregor Brown, and back row Ritchie. Jamie Dobie is the substitute scrum-half, with McDowall completing the line-up of replacements. George Horne and Kyle Rowe drop out of the matchday 23.

Scotland v Ireland kicks off at 3.00pm on Sunday 9 February.


Scotland Six Nations team v Ireland

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

Scotland Six Nations team v Italy

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


Scotland Six Nations squad 2025

Forwards

Ewan Ashman
Jamie Bhatti
Gregor Brown
Dave Cherry
Luke Crosbie
Rory Darge (co-captain)
Jack Dempsey
Matt Fagerson
Zander Fagerson
Euan Ferrie
Grant Gilchrist
Jonny Gray
Patrick Harrison
Cameron Henderson
Will Hurd
Euan Johnson
Jack Mann
Alexander Masibaka
D’Arcy Rae
Jamie Ritchie
Pierre Schoeman
Rory Sutherland
Marshall Sykes

Backs 

Fergus Burke
Matt Currie
Jamie Dobie
Darcy Graham
George Horne
Rory Hutchinson
Huw Jones
Tom Jordan
Blair Kinghorn
Stafford McDowall
Finn Russell (co-captain)
Arron Reed
Kyle Rowe
Duhan van der Merwe
Ollie Smith
Ben White

Read more: How to watch the Six Nations 2025 from anywhere


Scotland Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2024

Round 1: v Wales (Principality Stadium)

Starting XV: Kyle Rowe, Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Richie Gray, Scott Cummings, Luke Crosbie, Jamie Ritchie, Matt Fagerson

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Alec Hepburn, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Jack Dempsey, George Horne, Ben Healy, Cameron Redpath

Result: Wales 26-27 Scotland

Round 2: v France (Murrayfield)

Starting XV: Harry Paterson; Kyle Rowe, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Alec Hepburn, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Andy Christie, George Horne, Ben Healy, Cameron Redpath

Result: Scotland 16-20 France

Round 3: v England (Murrayfield)

Starting XV: Blair Kinghorn; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Alec Hepburn, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Andy Christie, George Horne, Ben Healy, Cameron Redpath

Result: Scotland 30-21 England

Round 4: v Italy (Stadio Olimpico)

Starting XV: Blair Kinghorn; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Cameron Redpath, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, George Horne; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Andy Christie, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Alec Hepburn, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Jamie Ritchie, Matt Fagerson, Ali Price, Kyle Rowe

Result: Italy 31-29 Scotland

Round 5: v Ireland (Aviva Stadium)

Starting XV: Blair Kinghorn; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Stafford McDowall, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Andy Christie, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Matt Fagerson, George Horne, Cameron Redpath, Kyle Rowe

Result: Ireland 17-13 Scotland


Scotland Six Nations squad 2024

Forwards

Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby)
Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby)
Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors)
Andy Christie (Saracens)
Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors)
Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors)
Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors)
Grant Gilchrist ( Edinburgh Rugby)
Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors)
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors)
Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs)
Johnny Matthews (Glasgow Warriors)
Elliot Millar-Mills (Northampton Saints)
WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby)
Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby)
Javan Sebastian (Edinburgh Rugby)
Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby)
Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby)
George Turner (Glasgow Warriors)
Glen Young (Edinburgh Rugby)

Backs

Ben Healy (Edinburgh Rugby)
George Horne (Glasgow Warriors)
Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints)
Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors)
Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse)
Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors)
Ross McCann (Great Britain Sevens)
Harry Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby)
Ali Price (Edinburgh Rugby)
Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby)
Arron Reed (Sale Sharks)
Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors)
Finn Russell (Bath Rugby)
Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors)
Ross Thompson (Glasgow Warriors)
Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors)
Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby)
Ben White (Toulon)


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