The Breakdown – Second Rows: Towering Titans

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Scotland's Grant Gilchrist at a lineout during a Guinness Six Nations match between England and Scotland at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on February 22, 2025, in London, England. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

Our first installment was on the Front Row, the foundation of the team, this episode turns to the second row, the ‘Towering Titans.’

If you’ve ever watched a match and wondered who the two modern day giants are roaming the pitch, that’s the second rows, or  locks. Take a look at what their roles are and who will be filling them for Scotland at this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations.

What is the Second Row?

Composed of two locks, No. 4 and No. 5, and standing as the tallest players on the pitch, this partnership is often the primary target in the line-out and is the team’s physical enforcement in tight exchanges. Their role is a blend of technical precision in the air and graft on the ground.

The tactical purpose of a lock is built on height and power. In the scrum, they provide the massive shove directly behind the front row to help a team hold their ground and push forward. Without their weight and leg power, the scrum would simply fold under the pressure of the opposition.

You’ll recognise them most at the lineout, the restart when the ball goes out of play. They are the primary targets for the high ball being thrown in by the hooker as discussed in the first instalment of this series.

Set pieces are as important as ever in the modern game and in last year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Scotland won the most lineouts of any nation with 76. This success was built on the clinical efficiency of the second row, with veteran Grant Gilchrist leading the charge by securing 19 lineouts personally.

In the modern game, second rows are defensive pillars. They are tasked with organising the chaos around the edges of a ruck, charging down kicks, and making a massive number of tackles, stopping the other team in their tracks.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – FEBRUARY 09: Scotland’s Jonny Gray closes down Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park during a Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, on February 09, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

The Scottish Contingent

Scotland’s Second Row for the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations is a formidable unit that combines experience with a physical edge. The group is bolstered by the presence of Jonny Gray, the Union Bordeaux Bègles player who featured in four championship games last year after a two-year absence from the international game. He is joined by the familiar and dependable faces of Grant Gilchrist and British & Irish Lion, Scott Cummings, both of whom remain pivotal to Scotland’s set-piece play.

The squad also features the rising talent of Max Williamson and Alex Craig, who have earned their places on form for Glasgow Warriors. Providing vital tactical flexibility is Gregor Brown, a player equally comfortable at lock or as a physical flanker – we’ll cover these players in the next installment of The Breakdown.

This versatility will allow Scotland to adapt its pack to the many challenges the Guinness Men’s Six Nations promises in the weeks ahead.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 08: Scotland’s Scott Cummings in action during a Quilter Nations Series match between Scotland and New Zealand at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, on November 08, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

The Scotland Second-Row:

• Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (12)
• Alex Craig – Glasgow Warriors (6)
• Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (45)
• Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (84)
• Jonny Gray – Union Bordeaux Bègles (81)
• Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (9)