Jonny Gray ruled out of Six Nations campaign

Scotland’s Six Nations campaign has suffered another blow with the loss of experienced lock Jonny Gray for the rest of the tournament due to a hand injury. It is understood that the 57-times capped 25-year-old will play no further part in the championship.

Glasgow Warriors’ second row Gray, who has partnered club-mate Scott Cummings in the engine room for the opening defeats by Ireland and England, will join national skipper Stuart Hogg at Exeter Chiefs next season after eight years with Glasgow.

Scotland visit Italy on Saturday, February 22 before a home Test against France on Sunday, March 8 and then

finishing away to Wales on

Saturday, March 14.

It is the loss of another experienced campaigner following the well-documented exile from the national squad of 49-times capped Racing 92 stand-off Finn Russell.

Gray picked up the injury in Saturday’s 13-6 loss to England in the Calcutta Cup clash at BT Murrayfield on Saturday and a Scotland team spokesman said: “He will return to his club [Glasgow] for ongoing care and assessment.”

Edinburgh’s Ben Toolis has been covering the position from the bench in the past two games, with 40-cap man and former captain Grant Gilchrist out of the matchday squad.

Jonny Gray’s older brother Richie, who has 65 Test caps for Scotland and one for the British and Irish Lions, declined to be involved in last year’s Rugby World Cup but, according to national head coach Gregor Townsend, has indicated that he would be available for selection again.

The 30-year-old, who won the French title with Toulouse last season, has been injured but will join home club

Glasgow next season.