Scotland Release Kinghorn, Graham and Van der Merwe in Wild Call That Sees Scrum-Half Start on the Wing

Watch the Guinness Six Nations at your local Greene King sports pub.

The Scots return to Rome for the first time since their disappointing defeat there in March 2024 and will be eager to get their campaign off to a fast start after finishing fourth last year.

Tom Jordan has been handed the starting role at full-back, with Kinghorn left out entirely.

There is also a first Six Nations start for Jamie Dobie, who shifts to the wing and will line up opposite Kyle Steyn. The Glasgow Warriors pair have been preferred to Edinburgh duo Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe, both of whom have struggled for form.

Graham takes a place on the bench, but there is no spot in the 23 for Van der Merwe, Scotland’s leading try-scorer, who was already dropped during the autumn after a dip in form following his Lions involvement last summer.

15. Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (12)
14. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (28)
13. Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (58)
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors (33) – Captain
11. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (17)
10. Finn Russell – Bath Rugby (89) – Vice-Captain
9. Ben White – Toulon (31)

1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (44)
2. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (32)
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (76)
4. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (45)
5. Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (84)
6. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (59)
7. Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors (34) – Vice-Captain
8. Jack Dempsey -–Glasgow Warriors (29)

16. George Turner – Harlequins (50)
17. Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (5)
18. Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints (11)
19. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (9)
20. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (12)
21. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (40)
22. Adam Hastings – Glasgow Warriors (35)
23. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (50)