Sione Tuipulotu: Scotland hit by MAJOR blow as ‘freakish’ injury rules captain out of Six Nations while key forward also suffers same fate

Sione Tuipulotu in action for Scotland in 2024.
Scotland have suffered a significant blow on the eve of their Six Nations campaign, as captain Sione Tuipulotu has been ruled out of the Championship through injury.
Tuipulotu sustained a pec injury prior to Glasgow Warriors’ Investec Champions Cup clash with Harlequins last week, and is now set to undergo surgery.
Sione Tuipulotu out of Six Nations
The powerhouse centre was already a major concern for the tournament, with Glasgow head coach Franco Smith describing it as a ‘freakish injury’.
“I think he might have injured his pec,” Smith said at the time. “It was a freakish injury. It was just something that happened. We weren’t suspicious about it, we just wanted to make sure it was nothing serious.”
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But, a statement issued on the Scottish Rugby website confirmed that he will now undergo surgery on the injury which will rule him out for the Six Nations.
“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.”
An update to your Scotland squad ahead of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations.
Rory Darge and Finn Russell will co-captain Scotland following an injury to Sione Tuipulotu. Scott Cummings will also likely miss the tournament through injury.
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— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) January 20, 2025
Whilst this is, of course, a major blow to Scotland, his return before the end of the season should still keep him in contention for the British and Irish Lions.
With the skipper now ruled out of the Championship, Rory Darge and Finn Russell will take over as co-captains. The pair previously led Scotland throughout the 2024 Six Nations campaign, in which they finished fourth in the table.
Scotland begin their Six Nations campaign against Italy on February 1.
Scotland injury woes
Elsewhere, Scott Cummings is also likely to miss the Six Nations after also picking up a knock.
“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,” read a statement.
The SRU have also confirmed they will make no changes to the squad at the current time.
Scotland’s Six Nations squad in full
Forwards: Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Bhatti, Gregor Brown, Dave Cherry, Luke Crosbie, Rory Darge (cc), Jack Dempsey, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Patrick Harrison, Will Hurd, Jack Mann, D’Arcy Rae, Dylan Richardson, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Rory Sutherland, Marshall Sykes
Backs: Fergus Burke, Matt Currie, Jamie Dobie, Darcy Graham, George Horne, Rory Hutchinson, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Blair Kinghorn, Stafford McDowall, Finn Russell (cc), Kyle Rowe, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White
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