Lock Swinson in six-month injury lay-off

Scotland forward Tim Swinson has been ruled out for six months through injury, his club Glasgow Warriors have announced.

The lock has undergone surgery on a leg injury sustained during the Scots’ 44-15 win over Argentina that completed their tour of the Americas and has returned home to undergo the operation.

The 37-times capped second row could be sidelined for the remainder of 2018, ruling him out of the first half of the Guinness Pro14 season, the Autumn Tests and making him a potential doubt for the start of the 2019 Natwest Six Nations.

Swinson, who can also cover back row, suffered a hand injury during last year’s November Tests, which initially looked like it would see him miss this year’s Six Nations. However, he recovered to feature in the final three games, off the bench against England and Ireland and starting in Italy.

Before being injured in the Argentina game, the 31-year-old had also played in the loss to United States in Houston the previous Saturday.

Scotland are already facing the prospect of being without captain John Barclay for the November series against Fiji, South Africa and Argentina after he ruptured his Achilles in the Pro14 semi-final.