Scotland team to play Argentina: Finn Russell left out

The pair will earn their 50th caps for Scotland when they start in Saturday's opening fixture of rugby's newest international competition in Cordoba. Both players recently featured for the British & Irish Lions and have been selected in the forward pack for the clash with Los Pumas.

Loosehead prop Schoeman, who made his Scotland debut against Tonga in 2021, joins hooker Ewan Ashman and tighthead Elliot Millar Mills in the front row.

Millar Mills arrives in Argentina after helping Northampton Saints secure victory over Exeter Chiefs in the Gallagher Premiership Final earlier this month.

Cummings reaches his half-century of appearances after making his international debut against France in 2019. He will partner Jonny Gray in an experienced second row combination.

The back row remains unchanged from Scotland's final match of the Guinness Six Nations in March. Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge will flank number eight Jack Dempsey.

At scrum-half, Ben White is selected alongside Tom Jordan at fly-half. Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu starts at inside centre and will be partnered in midfield by Northampton Saints title winner Rory Hutchinson.

Jordan starts ahead of Finn Russell, who missed the final matches of the domestic season due to a calf injury sustained. While it was expected that he would make his return ahead of this match, he is still recovering from the setback and doesn't feature as a result.

The back three is made up entirely of Glasgow Warriors players, with Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie selected on the wings and Kyle Rowe named at fullback.

There could also be a debut for Glasgow Warriors hooker Gregor Hiddleston, who has been included among the replacements for the first time at senior international level.

Hiddleston is joined on the bench by fellow front-rowers Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson. If called upon, Fagerson will earn his 82nd Scotland cap.

Alex Samuel provides cover in the second row and is in line for his first Scotland appearance since the victory over Tonga at Scottish Gas Murrayfield last November.

Gregor Brown and George Horne return to the matchday squad after recovering from injuries suffered during the closing stages of the United Rugby Championship season.

Fergus Burke is also named among the replacements, a year after making his first Scotland start during the 2025 summer tour, while Darcy Graham completes the 23-man squad for the trip to Cordoba.

Scotland will open their Nations Championship campaign against Argentina on Saturday, with Schoeman and Cummings set to become the latest players to reach the landmark of 50 international appearances.

15. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (17)
14. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (33) – Vice Captain
13. Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints (11)
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors (38) – Captain
11. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (19)
10. Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (17)
9. Ben White – Toulon (36)

1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (49)
2. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (35)
3. Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints (14)
4. Jonny Gray – Perpignan (81)
5. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (49)
6. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (64)
7. Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors (39) – Vice Captain
8. Jack Dempsey – Toshiba Brave Lupus (33)

16. Gregor Hiddleston – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
17. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (48)
18. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (81)
19. Alex Samuel – Glasgow Warriors (3)
20. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (16)
21. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (45)
22. Fergus Burke – Saracens (3)
23. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (55)