Stafford McDowall replaces injured captain Sione Tuipulotu at centre for Scotland's opening Six Nations match against Italy.

Scotland has been dealt a major blow ahead of the Six Nations with captain Sione Tuipulotu ruled out of the rugby tournament because of injury.

The void left by Tuipulotu is clear but there is now an opportunity to try new combinations and shock their Six Nations opponents

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu has been ruled out of the Six Nations Championship after being hurt in training last week while lock Scott Cummings’ participation is in doubt after he broke his arm at the weekend,

Cam Redpath, the Bath centre, will come into contention later in the tournament. He is nursing an unspecified leg injury but Townsend hopes he will be available for the third match, against England.

Glasgow Warriors centre Stafford McDowall will start at inside centre for Scotland against Italy on Saturday in the

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu has been ruled out of the Six Nations after being hurt in training last week, Scottish Rugby said on Monday.

Scotland have been dealt a major blow ahead of the Six Nations, with captain Sione Tuipulotu ruled out of the tournament due to injury. Tuipulotu picked up a pectoral muscle injury while training with Glasgow Warriors, and it has now been confirmed that he will miss the tournament.

The grim confirmation of Sione Tuipulotu's Six Nations-ending injury was expected but it still landed with a thud nonetheless. Tuipulotu is one of the form inside centres in the game; a captain, a physical brute,

Stafford McDowall, Duhan van der Merwe, Jonny Gray, Dave Cherry all start for Scotland in Six Nations; Scotland begin their campaign at home against Italy on Saturday February 1 (2.15pm kick-off); Gre

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu has been ruled out of the Six Nations tournament after suffering a chest injury in a major blow to his side's title hopes.

Scotland have suffered a major blow after it was revealed that star centre and 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.