SNS GroupScotland 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.
The 27-year-old is the clear favourite to claim the number 12 jersey for the British and Irish Lions in Australia this summer, so his expected return towards the end of the campaign will come as a relief to the tourists’ head coach, Andy Farrell.
Glasgow Warriors assistant coach Nigel Carolan called the injury a “freak accident” and said that the player is devastated.
“It was a little bit of a freak training ground accident, he wasn’t selected for last week”, he said.
“They were using it as a as a down week for him so he could prepare as best as he could for for the Scotland campaign. So he was training with the opposition. And again, it was just one of those he put his arm in and a funny kind of position and just had a bit of a twinge.
“So it was it’s one of those it was no one’s fault is just one of those things that that happened. And it’s very unfortunate. And he’s obviously devastated as much as we in Scotland are that he’s not available for the next few weeks.”
“Well, I suppose, like I mean, we are then like they wouldn’t have seen see on anyway for maybe the next couple of months. But it’s you know, what Scotland do next. I think it might present an opportunity.”
With Tuipulotu unavailable, Rory Darge and Finn Russell will now co-captain Scotland to reclaim the roles they performed in last year’s Six Nations.
Lock Scott Cummings could also be unavailable for the whole Six Nations after he fractured his arm in Glasgow’s 24-7 defeat by Harlequins on Saturday night.
A Scotland Rugby update read: “Following an injury to Sione Tuipulotu, Rory Darge and Finn Russell will co-captain Scotland in this year’s Guinness Six Nations.
“Darge and Russell led the side in the 2024 championship, in a famous victory over Wales and the 30-21 win over England at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.
“Sione Tuipulotu will miss the tournament after sustaining a pectoral muscle injury during a training session with Glasgow Warriors last week.
“Sione will undergo surgery this week and is expected to return to action before the end of the season.
“Scott Cummings sustained an arm fracture during Glasgow Warriors match against Harlequins at the weekend. He is also likely to miss the tournament and will undergo further review to determine when he will be fit to return.
“There will be no additions to the squad at this point.”
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