Gregor Townsend confirms Six Nations over for key Scotland duo after injuries in England win
Two of Scotland’s most influential forwards picked up serious injuries in the Calcutta Cup win with one back also a major doubt.
There was disappointment mixed in with the euphoria of Scotland’s 31-20 win over England following injuries to three players with two almost certain to miss the rest of the 2026 Six Nations.
Head coach Gregor Townsend confirmed that Jamie Ritchie and Jack Dempsey have picked up ‘serious’ injuries from the match and are not expected to play again in the tournament. Meanwhile, winger Jamie Dobie also left the pitch with an issue and could be another who plays no part in the next three tests.
The trio will still have to be assessed by the medical team at Murrayfield but Townsend was not positive about their chances. He also said he was ‘gutted’ for them and took no silver lining from the fact he has strength in depth in the areas of the pitch that have now been weakened.
‘Serious’ injuries for Dempsey and Ritchie while it’s ‘wait and see’ for Scotland over Dobie
He said: “I think they're all pretty serious injuries. I don't usually say that. Let's wait and see. I think both Jack (Dempsey) and Jamie Ritchie looked serious.
“Jamie Dobie was a bit more positive in the changing room. It's the third test match in a row coming up. It would take a lot to turn around to be available for training this weekend. We knew that coming into these three games. We have a strong squad. We had a game last week.
“Players have played a lot of rugby. Other players that weren't involved in the A game have trained with us. I'm sure there'll be a different team next weekend.”
Addressing each player’s individual concern, Townsend added: “Jack has a bicep injury. There's been a few of them this season from a number of teams. You can pretty much diagnose quite quickly that it's serious.
“We don't yet know (Jamie Ritchie). It was a knee, a hyperextended knee. Let's hope it's just the extension and the mechanism that gave everybody a fright. Let's hope there's no ligament tears.
“Let's hope that's not too serious (Jamie Dobie). I thought, what a performance from him today. I think I've already mentioned that defensively, he had an absolutely amazing tackle to close down an England attack.”
Townsend ‘so proud’ of Scotland after Calcutta Cup win
On the victory over England, Townsend said: “I'm so proud, it's a bit after the final whistle. During that first 20-30 minutes, I had to snap myself out of what I was thinking because it was just tremendous. Being a sport, seeing the rugby the players were playing, I had to realise it was a coaching game. I snapped out of it quite quickly but obviously the second half, we were getting penalised at times but we kept together.
“How we defended our line and then how we regained control, that makes me equally as proud as how we started the game. It's a little while now after the final whistle and we've had a good time together in the changing room. These are the emotions that make you realise that coaching and still being involved in the game is hugely rewarding.
“It gives you massive purpose in your life and why you do it. It's the players that drive our performance. The players drove it during the week and they drove it today in the game.”