SIONE TUIPULOTU will return as Scotland captain for the upcoming Quilter Nations Series.

The Glasgow Warriors centre, who qualifies for Scotland through his Greenock-born grandmother, was named in a 45-strong squad, unveiled on Tuesday, for next month’s games against the USA, New Zealand, Argentina and Tonga.

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The 28-year-old centre, who captained the team throughout the 2024 autumn Tests, missed the Guinness Six Nations earlier this year due to injury but recovered in time to tour Australia in the summer with the British and Irish Lions.

Tuipulotu, who has played for Scotland 30 times since making his full international debut against Tonga in 2021, was made an honorary Greenock Wanderers member last November on a visit to Fort Matilda, along with his grandmother Jaqueline Thomson and brother Mosese, following the Scots’ 27-13 win over the Wallabies at Murrayfield – where Jaqueline, who emigrated ‘down under’ in the 1960s, was among the spectators.

Tuipulotu, who became the first Wanderers member to win a Lions cap in the club’s history in the first Test against Australia in Brisbane on July 19, is one of 19 Warriors players in the Scotland training squad, which also features 13 Edinburgh Rugby players as well as representation from Bath, Saracens, Sale, Toulon, Bristol, Toulouse, Montpellier, Northampton and Perpignan.

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The first match in the series, against the USA on November 1, takes place outside the window for international fixtures, meaning only players from Glasgow and Edinburgh will be able to feature.

Coach Gregor Townsend told Scottish Rugby: “A lot of players are coming to their prime years. Over the last couple of years, players outside the squad have had that chance to get into the group but it’s very competitive now. In certain positions, there’s quality all the way through and some very good players have missed out on this squad.”

The squad also includes uncapped forwards Alexander Masibaka, Liam McConnell and Harri Morris.

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Following the series opener against the Americans next weekend, Scotland will host New Zealand on Saturday, November 8, Argentina on Sunday, November 16, and Tonga on Sunday, November 23, with all four matches to be broadcast live on TNT Sports.