mens
nations-championship
Forwards Jamie Ritchie (knee) and Elliot Millar Mills (leg) have stepped back from Scotland’s Nations Championship roster due to injuries.
Both Ritchie and Millar Mills, combining for 77 international appearances, sustained injuries while competing for their clubs over the weekend, Glasgow Warriors and Newcastle Red Bulls.
This is particularly disappointing for Ritchie, who returned to Scotland this summer after his time in France with Perpignan and was eager to increase his 62 caps, the last of which came during this year’s Six Nations.
Head coach Gregor Townsend has decided to call up three players as replacements: Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, Freddy Douglas, and D’arcy Rae.
The Edinburgh trio have now integrated into the national squad as they prepare for matches against New Zealand, Australia, and Japan in successive weekends at Murrayfield.
Tight-head prop Blyth-Lafferty, 20, has been close to earning his first cap for a while and has maintained his form from the previous season into this one, while back-rower Douglas, who is a year older, has three international caps and remains unbeaten in a dark blue jersey at the senior level.
D’ardy Rae has accumulated eight caps over a seven-year period, starting from his debut against Ireland in February 2019 up to his latest appearance against Fiji in round three of the Nations Championship. His recovery from a calf injury has come at a crucial time.
Sale Sharks scrum-half Gus Warr, who earned two caps during the summer tour of the Americas in 2024, will practice with the squad this week, while Glasgow full-back Josh McKay, soon to be eligible, will also join, continuing his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury.
