Six weeks ago when Gregor Townsend first named his squad for the Six Nations there was a monster injury list to contend with. Here’s a quick update on how things have progressed since then.
Listed as injured on the initial squad announcement:
John Barclay
Possibly in contention for Edinburgh’s PRO14 match with Leinster on 23rd March.
Mark Bennett
Playing the second game of his comeback for Edinburgh this weekend against Benetton.
Magnus Bradbury
Back playing for Edinburgh and Scotland.
Fraser Brown
Back playing for Scotland (although still to feature for Glasgow!)
Lewis Carmichael
Lewis’ season is over due to a knee injury.
David Denton
Was reportedly ‘touch and go’ to be available for Leicester’s game with Saracens in early February but still hasn’t taken to the field following what is now a 5-month layoff.
Cornell Du Preez
Unlikely to play again this season after a second throat operation in January for his horrendous injury which saw him hospitalised for 6 weeks.
Zander Fagerson
Back playing for Glasgow and Scotland.
Matt Fagerson
Starts for Glasgow against Zebre after returning a week earlier than expected when he came off the bench versus Connacht.
Richie Gray
The big man has played in Toulouse’s last 3 matches in the Top 14 and should be on duty again this Sunday against Lyon.
Luke Hamilton
Still suffering with concussion.
Damien Hoyland
Returned against Cardiff Blues last week and will go again in Italy versus Benetton this Saturday.
Byron McGuigan
Sale’s game against Exeter on Saturday will be his 3rd start since returning in the middle of February.
Matt Scott
Richard Cockerill is “hopeful” the centre will be available for Edinburgh v Leinster in 3 weeks’ time.
Rory Sutherland
His first game back was on the bench against Cardiff Blues and it’s the same again for Benetton this weekend.
Duncan Taylor
His season is over with a knee injury and he’ll be out of action until at least June.
Blade Thomson
Scarlets latest update was that he would play “hopefully…before the end of the season.”
George Turner
Returned for Glasgow a couple of weeks back and was in Paris as emergency cover for Scotland.
Jon Welsh
Still not back for Newcastle.
Injured before Italy game:
Hamish Watson
Injured in Champions Cup game versus Montpellier. Returns for Edinburgh against Benetton this Saturday.
Matt Smith
Called into the Scotland squad as injury cover but damaged his shoulder playing for Glasgow against Ospreys and is out for the season.
Listed as injured for Italy game:
Jonny Gray
Back playing for Scotland.
George Horne
Made his comeback for Glasgow against Connacht last week but his shoulder has put him back on the injured list this week.
Peter Horne
Back playing for Scotland
Lee Jones
Retained in Scotland squad with the expectation being he would only miss the opening rounds of the Six Nations but he’s yet to make his comeback for Glasgow.
Sean Maitland
Back playing for Saracens and Scotland.
Grant Stewart
Released from the Scotland squad but was tearing it up for Glasgow against Connacht last week and backs up George Turner this week.
Injured against Italy:
Willem Nel
Returns to action for Edinburgh against Benetton this weekend.
Sam Skinner
In line for a recall to the national squad ahead of the Wales game depending on how he goes in training with Exeter this week (as reported by theoffsideline).
Listed as injured for Ireland game:
John Hardie
He’s subsequently played a couple of games for Newcastle. Not in their side this weekend – but also not included among their extensive injury list.
Injured against Ireland:
Stuart Hogg
Retained in the squad with some hope he might play against Wales or England – although that does seem to be diminishing slightly as the weeks progress.
Huw Jones
“Unlikely” to play until after the Six Nations.
Ryan Wilson
The man himself is hopeful of playing before the end of the season for Glasgow – although having heard the gruesome description of his knee dislocation it’s hard to see how!
Listed as injured for France game:
Finn Russell
Back playing for Racing 92 against La Rochelle this weekend. Cross everything you’ve got people…
Other:
Stafford McDowall
He was added to the squad in January. Released back to Glasgow as injured ahead of the France game but managed to play versus Connacht and is in the Warriors’ starting XV again for this weekend’s clash with Zebre.
UPDATE – Alex Dunbar, who was briefly in the squad ahead of the Italy game and who was a key player in the November Tests, is now on the injured list for Newcastle following his move there on loan from Glasgow.
SQUAD UPDATE (4/3/19):
Hamish Watson, Willem Nel, Sam Skinner, Stafford McDowall, Grant Stewart, Matt Fagerson, Byron McGuigan and Gordon Reid have all been called up to the Scotland squad.
The following have been released back to their clubs: George Horne (shoulder), D’arcy Rae (ankle), George Turner (concussion) and Chris Dean (back) as well as Alex Allan, Rob Harley, John Hardie and Duncan Weir.