Darcy Graham, a prominent winger, is set to return to the Scotland national team after a lengthy absence of 13 months. He has been included in a well-experienced lineup for the opening autumn Test against the Fiji Water Flying Fijians at Murrayfield. Graham has not played for Scotland since the World Cup match against Ireland in October 2023; however, he has been active in the club scene, featuring in five of Edinburgh’s six matches this season.
Due to the match occurring outside the international window, the squad features exclusively players from Glasgow and Edinburgh, with the notable absence of international stars such as Finn Russell, Ben White, and Blair Kinghorn. In their stead, Adam Hastings will take on the fly-half role, Ali Price will play scrum-half, and Kyle Rowe is set to start at full-back.
The match will also mark the captaincy debut of Sione Tiupulotu, a center for Glasgow. Kyle Rowe, who is making his seventh international appearance, is uniquely the least experienced starter with fewer than ten caps. Coach Gregor Townsend has assembled a familiar and seasoned team for this competitive autumn encounter. Among the substitutes, Tom Jordan, the sole uncapped player in the squad, is anticipated to earn his first cap, while Edinburgh’s D’Arcy Rae, who has one previous cap, is also included as a replacement.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 5.40 AM Fiji Time. This game presents a valuable opportunity for Scotland to build momentum and showcase their depth as they prepare for future challenges on the international rugby stage.
As a hopeful note, Graham’s return not only adds much-needed experience but also brings excitement and speed to the team, promising an electrifying performance against Fiji.
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