Too bad: Injuries are continuing to pile up for Scotland as scots forward is ruled out of Six Nations championship .

Scotland have been dealt a further setback ahead of the Six Nations after Sharks hooker Dylan Richardson was ruled out of the tournament with a shoulder injury.

The 26-year-old, who is also able to play on the flank, is the latest player to be sidelined for the upcoming Championship after centre Sione Tuipulotu suffered the same fate.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend hasn’t replaced Richardson with a like-for-like replacement however as Sale Sharks wing Arron Reed has been brought into the squad.

Wing called in

This is due to fellow wing Duhan van der Merwe struggling with “niggles” so the busy Reed has been recalled after initially missing out on the 37-player Six Nations selection.

“We have called Arron Reed into the squad and he will be training today [Tuesday],” Scotland head coach Townsend revealed at the official Six Nations launch in Rome.

“It’s to cover Duhan this week who has a couple of niggles, so we’re still keeping an eye on how he’s tracking. I’m not sure if he’ll be able to train today which is what the medics told me last night.

“We don’t see any problems for next week, but it might [need to be] managed this week in training. Because we were quite tight with our squad – Sione is missing and players are training in different positions – we still thought we would be okay but then with Duhan not training today, maybe not training tomorrow, we’d fail to make our training function.”

Townsend added that the Sharks hooker Richardson is set to go back to his United Rugby Championship side to determine whether he requires surgery on his injury.

“Dylan Richardson looks like he’s going to be out the squad. He’s reported in with a shoulder injury from the weekend,” he said.

“He got a scan on Monday night and he’ll now go back to his club and I’d imagine he’d be ruled out for the Six Nations. That’s what we’re planning but it’ll be more about what his club decides and whether he requires surgery now. He certainly won’t be considered for the next couple of weeks.

“We had four hookers, it was the only position we had four players in. It’s a blow for Dylan but we won’t be adding anyone in there just yet.”

As mentioned, Scotland have been hit by injury in their preparations for the Six Nations with captain and centre Tuipulotu ruled out, as well as second-row Scott Cummings.

Italy first up

They kick off their campaign at home against Italy on Saturday, February 1 before hosting Ireland on Sunday, February 9, after which the tournament will take a break.

Upon their return they travel to Twickenham on Saturday, February 22 before a home fixture against Wales on Saturday, March 8 and visit to France the following week.