Rory Hutchinson drafted into Scotland's Pacific Tour squad

Scotland have brought in experienced centre Rory Hutchinson to their 37-man squad for the Pacific tour after Matt Currie was forced to withdraw due to a hamstring injury.

The injury setback for the Edinburgh midfielder has opened the door for Hutchinson, who brings depth and versatility to the squad set to face New Zealand, Fiji, and Samoa.

Currie had been enjoying a strong season with Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship and was expected to play a key role during the three-match tour.

However, his injury meant Scotland needed to act swiftly, and Hutchinson, who last appeared for the national side during the Autumn Nations Series win over Portugal, was called up as a replacement.

Hutchinson, 29, was born in Cambridge and qualifies to represent Scotland through his maternal grandparents. He made his international debut in 2019 in a World Cup warm-up match and was part of Scotland’s squad for the 2022 tour of Argentina.

Despite regular strong performances at club level for Northampton Saints, his appearances for Scotland have been limited in recent years.

Comfortable playing at inside and outside centre, Hutchinson also has experience on the wing and even at full-back, making him a valuable asset in a squad stretched by injuries and Lions absentees.

He played most of the season at inside centre for Northampton and was a key contributor to their campaign.