Scott Cummings forced to withdraw from Scotland squad through injury

Scott Cummings has dropped out of the Scotland squad after suffering an injury against Ireland on Sunday. But Zander Fagerson has been called up after sitting out the game through suspension.

Lock Cummings and 21-year-old back Rufus McLean are the only two players to drop out of Gregor Townsend’s squad following the 27-24 loss, which ended Scotland’s Guinness Six Nations title hopes.

Glasgow player Cummings suffered a suspected hand fracture while fellow lock Jonny Gray sustained a shoulder injury and stand-off Finn Russell picked up a head knock, which looks likely to rule him out of Saturday’s visit of Italy.

However, Gray and Russell are both included in the 35-man squad.

Uncapped back-row forward Ally Miller and his Edinburgh team-mate, back Damien Hoyland, have been drafted into the squad.

Fagerson is also back in the camp after serving three games of his four-match ban following his red card against Wales.

The punishment was due to be split between club and international duty but it had been unclear whether Fagerson would miss the game with Italy or the yet-to-be-rearranged meeting with France.

Speaking on the injury situation after Sunday’s narrow defeat, Townsend said: “It is quite early to tell but Finn was removed from play with a concussion, so it’s unlikely he will feature in six days’ time.

“And Scott Cummings, we fear he may have a fracture in his hand, so if that’s the case he won’t be involved next week. Jonny Gray had a shoulder issue, so we will wait and see how he is.

“That’s three players – I imagine there will be a few more that turn up at training on Tuesday sore and we’ll just have to see where we are then.”

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