50 up for Turner as Scotland make changes for Tonga
21 Nov 2025
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Scotlands George Turner during a Quilter Nations Series match between Scotland and Argentina at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, on November 16, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group) George Turner will win a 50th Scotland cap this Sunday 23 November, as Tonga visit Scottish Gas Murrayfield for the Quilter Nations Series finale.
Sione Tuipulotu is the sole starting XV survivor from last week’s loss to Argentina as head coach Gregor Townsend makes a raft of changes to his squad.
For the final Test match of 2025, centre Tuipulotu will link up with Glasgow teammate Ollie Smith, with fellow Warrior Kyle Rowe selected on the right wing.
Duhan van der Merwe, a replacement last time out, is given the nod on the opposing wing, with Tom Jordan selected at full-back in a first start of the series.
Scotland will have a new-look half-back pairing, with stand-off Fergus Burke primed for a first home cap and scrum-half Ben White making a welcome return after missing out through illness last week.
Zander Fagerson is another returnee, with the tighthead prop having recovered from an injury that curtailed his involvement in the British & Irish Lions tour earlier in the year.
Rory Sutherland will pack down at loosehead prop, joining half-centurion Turner to complete the front row.
It’s all change in the second row, as Max Williamson and Alex Samuel join forces in the engine room to start together, having both assumed the role as substitutes in the series opener against USA.
In the back row, Jamie Ritchie and Andy Onyeama-Christie earn first appearances of the autumn at blindside and openside flanker respectively, with Magnus Bradbury coming in at Number 8.
On the bench, hooker Ewan Ashman, who last weekend became Scotland Men’s all-time top try scorer, for a forward, as he crossed for a 12th such score, is joined by props Nathan McBeth and Will Hurd, the latter of whom was a late call-up to the wider squad.
Second row Marshall Sykes and Josh Bayliss, who will cover the back row positions, are the remaining forwards.
And Scotland’s final squad of the calendar year is completed by back replacements, scrum-half George Horne, centre Stafford McDowall and Kyle Steyn, who will cover the centre positions.
Scotland team to play Tonga in the Quilter Nations Series at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Sunday 23 November, kick-off 1:40pm – live on TNT Sports (caps in brackets):
15. Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (11)
14. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (15)
13. Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors (11)
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors (32) – Captain
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (51)
10. Fergus Burke – Saracens (2)
9. Ben White – Toulon (30) – Vice-captain
1. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (45)
2. George Turner – Harlequins (49)
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (75)
4. Alex Samuel – Glasgow Warriors (2)
5. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (8)
6. Andy Onyeama-Christie (Saracens) (9)
7. Jamie Ritchie – Perpignan (60) – Vice-captain
8. Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby (20)
Replacements
16. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (31)
17. Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (4)
18. Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (9)
19. Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (6)
20. Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (13)
21. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (39)
22. Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (15)
23. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (27)
