Darcy Graham is set to make his long-awaited return to the Scotland rugby team after more than a year away, as he takes the field against Fiji at Murrayfield this Saturday. The 27-year-old winger from Edinburgh has faced a series of injuries, with his last international appearance occurring during the World Cup in October 2023.
In addition to Graham’s return, scrum-half Ali Price will also start for the first time since the World Cup, while Adam Hastings has been named as the fly-half. Tom Jordan is expected to make his debut from the bench, having recently completed the five-year eligibility period and enjoyed a solid start to the season with Glasgow Warriors.
With the Autumn Series kicking off outside the international window, head coach Gregor Townsend is primarily drawing from home-based players. However, replacement hooker Dylan Richardson has been released from Sale Sharks to join the squad.
Sione Tuipulotu has been appointed captain for the November Tests and will be partnering once again with centre Huw Jones. In the absence of Toulouse star Blair Kinghorn, Kyle Rowe is set to earn his eighth cap at full-back.
The second row will feature Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings, while Ewan Ashman takes the position of starting hooker. The back row will be made up of Glasgow players Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, and Jack Dempsey. Jamie Dobie will serve as the scrum-half cover, with D’Arcy Rae looking to earn his second cap, five-and-a-half years after his Scotland debut.
Fiji’s last encounter with Scotland in Edinburgh was in November 2022, where Scotland overcame a challenging first half to secure a 28-12 victory.
The Fijian squad will be without notable players such as Waisale Nayacalevu (Sale Sharks), Eroni Mawi (Saracens), and Semi Radradra (Lyon), among others.
Scotland Team: Rowe; Graham, Jones, S Tuipulotu (capt), Van der Merwe; Hastings, Price; Schoeman, Ashman, Z Fagerson, Gilchrist, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.
Replacements: Richardson, Sutherland, Rae, Williamson, Brown, Dobie, Jordan, McDowall.
Fiji Team: Ravula; Karawalevu, Vota, Tabuavou, Loganimasi; Muntz, Lomani; Hetet, Ikanivere (capt), Tawake, Nasilasila, Rotuisolia, Derenalagi, Salawa, Canakaivata.
Replacements: Dolokoto, Natave, Koroiduadua, Vocevoce, Miramira, Kuruvoli, Valetini, Nalaga.
