Scotland name new skipper for November Tests
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Sione Tuipulotu has been handed the Scotland captaincy for the November internationals against Fiji, South Africa, Portugal and Australia.
Gregor Townsend has appointed the Glasgow centre to the role ahead of Rory Darge and Finn Russell, who skippered the team on a joint basis in the Six Nations earlier this year.
Darge and Russell have been listed as vice-captains for the four Murrayfield Tests, which start on November 2, with Fiji the first visitors.
Townsend has selected five uncapped players in his 45-man group, with Glasgow pair Alex Samuel and Tom Jordan joined by Edinburgh trio Ben Muncaster, Freddy Douglas and Mosese Tuipulotu, the brother of Sione.
Edinburgh playmaker Ben Healy has been left out after a difficult start to the season at club level, with Jordan preferred alongside the more experienced flyhalf duo of Russell and Adam Hastings.
Edinburgh forward D’Arcy Rae and Northampton back Rory Hutchinson have been recalled to the squad, while wing Darcy Graham is back in the mix for the first time since last year’s World Cup after recovering from injury.
As expected, there is no place in the squad for veteran forwards George Turner and Richie Gray, who have effectively ruled themselves out of contention for selection by moving from Glasgow to Japan.
Sharks utility forward Dylan Richardson has been named in the squad and could face his country of birth for the first time in his career. He is one of four South African-born players in the squad, alongside props Nathan McBeth and Pierre Schoeman and wing Duhan van der Merwe.
“Sione has been one of our key leaders over the last couple of years and thrives in that leadership role,” said Townsend.
“We’ve seen that in his outings as Glasgow captain and when he had the opportunity to lead the team against Chile a few months ago.
“He often sets the emotional tone and mindset required for the team and he also contributes significantly to both our attack and defence.
“Last season we looked to deepen our leadership group and we now have a number of people who could step up as captain.”
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