Six Nations 2026: Meet rising Scottish star Gregor Brown

We are slowly approaching the sliding doors moment in Gregor Brown’s life.

The day is certainly fast approaching when Brown stops asking about being Blair Kinghorn’s cousin, and when the Scottish full-back is instead asked about his relationship with the Glasgow striker.

It’s not entirely clear what position Brown will play for Scotland in the Six Nations, or indeed, if he is a starter or on the bench, but there is one certainty – that he will be pivotal to the team’s hopes.

The 24-year-old is only 18 months into his top-level playing career – a whirlwind of progress he describes as “crazy” – but his impact has been enormous.

He played Test matches with fours, fives, sixes and sevens on his back. He started against France at lock and against New Zealand and Argentina at blindside.

He was Jonny Gray’s substitute in the Six Nations last season, and by the summer had played some minutes for the British and Irish Lions in Australia.

“If you had gone back 18 months and told me I would have done all this, I would have laughed at you,” he says. “No way. It was completely mental.”

True, but Brown is now a central figure for Townsend, the man who asks the coach some questions to answer.

Townsend’s natural inclination for the Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on Saturday may be a second row of Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings.

That would leave Brown either starting at six or more likely on the bench covering the lock and blind side.