Scotland confirm squad update as three players deal with injuries - Sale star called up

Tuesday, 27 January 2026 at 13:46

byTom Sansom

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has confirmed an update to his 2026 Guinness Men's Six Nations training squad, as preparations continue ahead of the incoming Championships. Three changes have been made to the initial wider training group, with hooker Dave Cherry, flanker Liam McConnell and versatile back Jamie Dobie ruled out of the squad.

Cherry departs the group as a problematic calf injury has persisted, which caused the Vannes front row to miss his latest fixture in the French Pro D2 against Grenoble. Dobie, who is a considerable loss given his dependability across both scrum half and wing, is dealing with a knee issue that has re-occurred. Whilst Dobie and Cherry will remain with the squad, McConnell will head back to his Edinburgh club, as he recovers from a rib injury.

Called up into the squad is Sale halfback Gus Warr and Glasgow Warriors hooker Gregor Hiddleston. The front rower and number nine get the nod up into the senior training camp, after previously getting the nod for an run with the Scotland A training squad earlier this month. Warr's inclusion is an exciting addition from the PREM Rugby club, after a series of impressive performances for Alex Sanderson's side.

Gregor Townsend’s side begin their Six Nations campaign against Italy in Rome a week on Saturday. Glasgow fans will be excited to see Hiddleston make the squad, with the 23-year-old's previous omission deemed as quite the shock to supporters of the side North of the border.

5 QUICK FACTS: GUS WARR

1. Long-term Sale man — Warr joined the Sale Sharks Academy at age 14 and has since made 70+ first-team appearances for the club.

2. International debut off the bench — He qualifies for Scotland through his mother and earned his first senior caps in 2024, scoring two tries on debut against Canada.

3. Versatile age-grade background — He represented Scotland at U18, U19 and U20 levels, and also played for England U20 in the Six Nations U20s.

4. Loan experience built his game — Warr had loan/dual-registration spells with Doncaster Knights early in his career before becoming a Sale regular.

5. Gritty match-manager — Known for his decision-making and kicking game, Warr has transitioned from squad fringe player to consistent starter in the Sharks No 9 shirt.