Darge and Tuipulotu co-captain as 13 Warriors selected for Scotland

Scotland Head Coach Gregor Townsend has named 13 Glasgow Warriors in the matchday 23 that will take on the USA in Washington DC this weekend, as an all-new starting XV will look to back up last weekend’s 73-12 win over Canada in their latest match of the Skyscanner Summer Series.

Eight of the Warriors selected are set to see their first action of the tour, including five players who will take to the field for the first time since Glasgow’s unforgettable BKT URC Grand Final triumph over the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria last month.

A brand-new captaincy tandem will see Rory Darge and Sione Tuipulotu share the on-field leadership duties in the US capital, the former continuing his co-captaincy role from the Guinness Six Nations earlier this year alongside his club-mate.

Murphy Walker comes into the front-row to start at tight-head, the prop making his first appearance for his country since last summer’s Rugby World Cup warm-up clash with Italy at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

Scott Cummings starts in the second-row, having scored the opening try in Glasgow’s 21-16 victory over the Vodacom Bulls in his most recent match.

The Player of the Match from the Warriors’ title-winning performance joins co-captain Darge in the back-row, as Matt Fagerson comes into the starting XV after a brief cameo off the bench in Ottawa last Saturday.

An all-new half-back combination sees the returning Adam Hastings partner George Horne behind the scrum, the pair having also started together in the nine and 10 jerseys on Scotland’s last visit to the USA back in 2018.

Huw Jones joins Tuipulotu in the midfield, the Huwipulotu centre pairing having started all three of Glasgow’s BKT URC playoff victories together.

Kyle Steyn comes in to start on the wing, the Glasgow skipper having scored Scotland’s 11^th and final try in Ottawa after coming off the bench last weekend.

Kyle Rowe completes the cohort of Warriors in the starting lineup, the former Scotland 7s flyer named at full-back for his first run-out since a try-scoring display in Glasgow’s win over Zebre Parma at Scotstoun at the end of May.

Three Warriors who started the victory in Canada rotate to the bench for Friday night’s match in Washington DC, with Rory Sutherland set to win his 31^st cap for Scotland if and when he comes onto the field.

Fresh from making his senior Scotland debut in Ottawa, Max Williamson retains his place in the matchday 23, having made an impressive impact during his hour on the field in the Canadian capital.

Jamie Dobie rounds out the Glasgow contingent, the scrum-half having touched down under the posts for his first try in Scotland colours last weekend.

Not a bad way to score your first try for your country 🤩 https://t.co/vY7IcDlO3T

— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) July 7, 2024

Supporters can watch the match live on TNT Sports this Friday night, with kick-off scheduled for 11.30pm UK time.

Your Scotland side to take on @USARugby in the second game of the @Skyscanner Americas Tour.

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/1gp8hbcNX9 pic.twitter.com/4Ln4nUt5QJ

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) July 10, 2024