Sharks hooker on Scotland bench

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Gregor Townsend has named his team to face Fiji in the first of Scotland’s tear-end Tests at Murrayfield on Saturday.

After being named as Scotland captain last week, Sione Tuipulotu will lead the team out.

With mostly just home-based players available due to the match taking place outside the international window, Sione will partner Huw Jones in the centres.

On the wings, Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe are named.

In Van der Merwe’s last match for Scotland, he became the country’s top try scorer after touching down against Uruguay.

After an impressive Six Nations earlier this year and scoring two tries against Chile in the mid-year tour, Kyle Rowe is named at fullback.

Ali Price makes his first start for Scotland since the 2023 World Cup final group game against Ireland, pairing up with former Glasgow Warriors teammate Adam Hastings.

In the forwards, the familiar sight of Zander Fagerson and Pierre Schoeman combine at prop, with Ewan Ashman starting at hooker.

Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings link up in the second row.

A United Rugby Championship-winning back row will start the match with Glasgow Warriors’ Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey all named.

Dylan Richardson is eligible to play the fixture following approval from the Durban-based Sharks and he has been named on the bench, aiming to make his second appearance at Murrayfield following his debut in 2021.

D’arcy Rae is back in the squad after impressing for Edinburgh and will look to add to his first cap that was gained in 2019 against Ireland.

Max Williamson played in all four mid-year tour matches and will be looking to add to his tally, from the bench.

Gregor Brown and Jamie Dobie were also heavily involved on tour and they are selected in the matchday 23 along with Glasgow Warriors centre Stafford McDowall.

Now eligible for Scotland on residency grounds, Tom Jordan will be eying his Scotland debut having been on form for Glasgow Warriors, featuring in every game of Warriors’ URC-winning 2023/24 campaign, making his 50th appearance in the Final.

Scotland: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Ali Price, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Jamie Dobie, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Stafford McDowall.

Date: Saturday, November 2
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 17.40 (17.40 GMT; 05.40 Fiji time, Sunday, November 3)
Referee: Craig Evans
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley, Luc Ramos
TMO: Brett Cronan