Tuipulotu Six Nations injury concern for Scotland

Tuipulotu has been in sparkling form for club and country in the last 12 months

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu's participation in the Six Nations has been cast into doubt after he was injured in training with Glasgow Warriors.

The centre sustained an upper body problem this week, although he was going to be rested for Warriors' Champions Cup game with Harlequins on Saturday anyway.

Tuipulotu will see a specialist in the coming week amid growing fears that one of Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend's most influential players is going to miss the Six Nations.

It would be a huge blow to lose a man considered one of the form players in Europe right now and viewed by many as an obvious choice for the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia this summer.

Tuipulotu made his Scotland debut against Tonga in 2021 and has scored three tries in 30 international appearances.

Scotland's opening match of the tournament is against Italy at Murrayfield on 1 February.

Meanwhile, there was more bad news for Townsend on Saturday night when Scott Cummings left the pitch early in Glasgow's Champions Cup defeat by Harlequins after the lock suffered an arm injury.

'Bad news on the way?' - analysis

When everybody at Glasgow - and at Murrayfield - talk vaguely, or not at all, when asked about Sione Tuipulotu's injury, you get a feeling that bad news is on the way.

All of Scotland waits with bated breath for the official prognosis.

Tuipulotu is one of the form inside-centres in the world game; a captain, a physical brute, an artist, an inspiration to his team. If he's missing some, or all, of the Six Nations then a chunk of optimism about Scotland's campaign is going to go with him.

His partnership with Huw Jones is a cosmic blend. Now it looks like an alternative is needed.

Jones and Tom Jordan does not pack enough physical punch. Franco Smith never plays them together at 12-13 for Glasgow.

Most likely, it is going to be another Warriors pair, Stafford McDowall and Jones, in the midfield in the championship.

That is still a forceful and dynamic unit, but the potential loss of the big man is a nightmare on many fronts.

As for Tuipulotu's fitness for the Lions, let us just presume that whatever time he misses in the Six Nations he will still have time enough to get himself roaring again for the summer in Australia.

Have your say

What is your reaction to the news that Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu is an injury doubt for the upcoming Six Nations?

How do you think his absence might affect Scotland's chances? And who would you pick to replace him in the centres?

Have your say here