Rowe to make Guinness Six Nations debut

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 22: Warriors' Kyle Rowe scores a try during a BKT United Rugby Championship match between Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby at Scotstoun Stadium, on December 22, 2023, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

The 25-year-old will line up at full-back at the Principality Stadium this Saturday evening, having scored seven tries in 11 appearances for the Warriors since his summer arrival from London Irish.

Rowe is one of four Warriors named amongst the back-line by Townsend and his coaching team, with Kyle Steyn selected on the wing – a year on from crossing for a brace against the Welsh at Scottish Gas Murrayfield – after returning from injury in Glasgow’s 29-5 win over Toulon a fortnight ago.

After a Player of the Match-winning display that included two tries of his own in that victory over Toulon, Huw Jones is selected at outside centre, having enjoyed an eye-catching 2023 Guinness Six Nations campaign in Scotland’s midfield.

Sione Tuipulotu links up Jones in the midfield, the centre also named as one of two vice-captains ahead of the trip to the Principality Stadium.

Up front, George Turner is given the nod at hooker, the 31-year-old having also crossed for a score in the win over Wales back in February 2023.

Zander Fagerson starts at tight-head, the British and Irish Lions prop having featured in each of Glasgow’s last seven matches across all competitions.

Richie Gray is the most experienced Warrior selected by Townsend and his coaching team, as the second-rower prepares to win his 79^th cap in the dark blue jersey.

He is joined in the engine room by club-mate Scott Cummings, the former Glasgow Hawk following up his recent contract extension with his boyhood team by earning the right to start in round one of the northern hemisphere’s premier international tournament.

Matt Fagerson rounds out the Glasgow cohort in the starting XV, lining up at number eight to extend a run of appearances that has seen him feature in 21 of Scotland’s last 22 Test matches.

Two more Warriors await their opportunity from the bench, with Jack Dempsey selected to cover the back-row having also made his return to competitive action in the win over Toulon at Scotstoun.

George Horne joins Dempsey amongst the replacements, as the scrum-half wins his 27^th cap for his country while pulling on the number 21 jersey.

Supporters can watch the match live this Saturday on BBC One, with kick-off in Cardiff scheduled for 4.45pm.

Scotland team to play Wales in the Guinness Six Nations at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, on Saturday 3 February 2024, kick-off 4.45pm – live on BBC

15. Kyle Rowe
14. Kyle Steyn
13. Huw Jones
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Vice-Captain
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell – Captain
9. Ben White

1. Pierre Schoeman
2. George Turner
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Richie Gray
5. Scott Cummings
6. Luke Crosbie
7. Jamie Ritchie – Vice-Captain
8. Matt Fagerson

Replacements
16. Ewan Ashman
17. Alec Hepburn
18. Elliot Millar-Mills
19. Sam Skinner
20. Jack Dempsey
21. George Horne
22. Ben Healy
23. Cam Redpath