Scotland rugby named Pierre Schoeman and Scott Cummings in its starting XV for Saturday’s Nations Championship opener against Argentina, with both set to earn a 50th cap. It is the first match in the 2026 Nations Championship, and Scotland will carry two milestone selections into it.
Schoeman and Cummings to 50
Schoeman will reach the mark after making his debut against Tonga in 2021. Cummings first played for Scotland in 2019 against France, and he is now set to bring up 50 appearances in the same side as Schoeman.
Gregor Townsend picked a back five built around that pair and kept Jonny Gray in the second row alongside Cummings. Scotland’s starting pack also includes Ewan Ashman, Elliot Millar Mills, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey, with Ben White, Tom Jordan, Sione Tuipulotu, Rory Hutchinson, Kyle Steyn, Jamie Dobie and Kyle Rowe elsewhere in the starting XV.
Jonny Gray returns with Cummings
The wrinkle in the selection is Gray’s return beside Cummings while Finn Russell is absent from the side named against Argentina. That leaves Scotland with milestone caps at lock and prop, but a different shape in the middle of the team than some will have expected.
Sione Tuipulotu will captain Scotland, with Kyle Steyn and Rory Darge named as vice captains. Gregor Hiddleston is on the bench for a potential debut, while Zander Fagerson could win his 82nd cap if he comes off the bench; Alex Samuel is also among the replacements after his last appearance in November’s win over Tonga at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.
Estadio Mario Kempes in Cordoba
The match is scheduled for Saturday 4 July 2026 at Estadio Mario Kempes in Cordoba, kicking off at 8.10pm BST. It will be shown live on ITV4, and Scotland’s team sheet gives the opener a sharper edge than a routine first-round pick.
For Scotland, the immediate focus is simple: two players are set to reach 50 caps in the same Test, and the first assignment of the Nations Championship asks Townsend’s side to absorb the loss of Finn Russell while leaning on Gray, Tuipulotu and the rest of the starting XV.
