Seven selected for Wales opener

• 1 Feb 2024
• News

Head Coach Gregor Townsend has named seven Edinburgh Rugby players in squad to face Wales in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener at Principality Stadium (3 February, kick-off 4.45pm) – live on BBC.

Jamie Ritchie – named vice-captain – starts at openside flanker alongside clubmate and blindside flanker Luke Crosbie.

Loosehead prop Pierre Schoeman continues in the number 1 jersey with winger Duhan van der Merwe selected in the back-three.

Hooker Ewan Ashman, lock Sam Skinner and stand-off Ben Healy are all named among the replacements.

Scotland captain Finn Russell leads the side from stand-off, partnered by Ben White at scrum-half.

The familiar pairing of Sione Tuipulotu (named as a vice-captain) and Huw Jones resume a centre partnership which featured in each of last year’s championship fixtures.

Wingers Van der Merwe and Kyle Steyn are selected as part of a back three completed by full-back Kyle Rowe, who is set to win a first international cap since his debut on the 2022 tour to Argentina.

In the pack, Schoeman starts at loosehead prop with Zander Fagerson at tighthead. George Turner completes a settled front row at hooker.

Richie Gray, competing in an 11^th Six Nations championship having made his debut in 2010, packs down in the second row with Scott Cummings.

Scotland’s back row is anchored by number 8 Matt Fagerson, with Crosbie named at blindside flanker andRitchie, also a vice-captain, selected at openside.

There are two potential propping debutants among the replacements, with Alec Hepburn (loosehead) and Elliot Millar-Mills (tighthead) primed for a first taste of Scotland duty.

Hooker Ashman and the versatile pair Skinner and Jack Dempsey represent the remaining forward options.

The 23-player selection is completed with the inclusion of scrum-half George Horne, stand-off Healy and centre Cam Redpath.

Scotland team to face Wales at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, in the Guinness Six Nations on Saturday 3 February, kick-off 4.45pm – live on BBC (caps in brackets)

15. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (1)

14. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (15)
13. Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (43)
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Vice-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (22)
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (34)

10. Finn Russell – Captain – Bath Rugby (75)
9. Ben White – Toulon (18)

1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (26)
2. George Turner – Glasgow Warriors (40)
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (62)
4. Richie Gray – Glasgow Warriors (78)
5. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (33)
6. Luke Crosbie – Edinburgh Rugby (7)
7. Jamie Ritchie – Vice-Captain – Edinburgh Rugby (46)
8. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (40)

Replacements

16. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (12)
17. Alec Hepburn – Exeter Chiefs (uncapped)
18. Elliot Millar-Mills – Northampton Saints (uncapped)
19. Sam Skinner – Edinburgh Rugby (30)
20. Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (15)
21. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (26)
22. Ben Healy – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
23. Cameron Redpath – Bath Rugby (9)