Gregor Townsend believes that Scotland can challenge for Six Nations glory this season as they hunt for their first title since 1999. 

Scotland have finished fourth in the last two editions of the competition, and come into the tournament off the back of a dispiriting autumn series. 

Townsend's team blew a golden chance for a historic first victory over New Zealand before crumbling from a 21-0 advantage to lose 33-24 to Argentina in November. 

There were, however, comfortable victories over the United States and Tonga, though Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu refused to set any targets for the Six Nations. 

And though Scotland have failed to triumph since the final edition of the Five Nations 27 years ago, Townsend believes his team have the quality to compete this time around. 

"I do believe the way the team played throughout 2025 in some of our biggest games – when I think back to New Zealand, France, England – the players have performed at a really high level," Townsend said.

"Even though we had those painful moments of not winning against New Zealand and Argentina, I see that as positive.

"They were not positive at the time, obviously, but what we learned can help us when we're going to have those moments of adversity."

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝

Here are the 40 players selected to represent Scotland for the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations!#GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/nyQbUs7L58

— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) January 20, 2026

Scotland have called on experience for this year's Six Nations, with Jonny Gray and Dave Cherry returning to Townsend's 40-man squad.

Neither Gray nor Cherry has featured for Scotland since the last Six Nations, with the squad also including experienced figures, such as Ewan Ashman, George Turner, Pierre Schoeman, Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie, Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey.

And Townsend's optimism comes because of the form of Glasgow Warriors, who are top of the United Rugby Championship by three points ahead of Cape Town Stormers. 

"The fact that Glasgow are playing really well and a lot of our players come from the Glasgow team, that is a positive going into the tournament," added Townsend.

"Last year we played four games at a really good level, but we didn't play the fifth one against Ireland anything like we needed to.

"If we can get that same level of performance over five games with the learning that we've had since then, we'll be a very competitive team."

Scotland begin their campaign with a tricky trip to an improving Italy before England visit Murrayfield aiming for a first win in Edinburgh since 2020.

Townsend's men then travel to Wales and host France before visiting Ireland on the final weekend of the tournament.