Sione Tuipulotu admitted he thought he was in trouble when Gregor Townsend asked to speak to him after a Glasgow training session – only to ask the Warriors centre if he would take on the Scotland captaincy.  

Tuipulotu will lead Scotland for the first time on his own against Fiji at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday having co-captained the side on the summer tour. 

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The 27-year-old said: “The Scotland coaches often come into Glasgow every now and then just to talk about how we're going and what we need to do better.  

“We were in a big group and then [Gregor] asked me to stay back after. I thought I was in trouble, to be honest, so I was a bit anxious about it, but then he asked me how I would feel about captaincy. 

Sione Tuipulotu will lead Scotland against FijiSione Tuipulotu will lead Scotland against Fiji (Image: SNS) “I was taken back by it a little bit just because I didn't expect it.” 

The centre has taken over from his Glasgow team-mate Rory Darge and Finn Russell and feels well-prepared for the role having led Glasgow in the recent past.  

“I've had experience over the last couple of years captaining, vice-captaining Scotland and captaining Scotland, but also my experience captaining Glasgow in big games and our finals run as well with Steyno.  

“So I feel like I'm well prepared for the task." 

Taking on the captaincy is the latest accolade for the Australian-born 27-year-old, who only made his international debut against Tonga – for whom he also qualifies through his father - three years ago.  

Having arrived in Scotland during the pandemic, Tuipulotu admitted he nearly quit before he had even started.  

"I did two weeks quarantine because it was in the Covid times and then when I popped out, one of the bos got Covid, so I ended up doing four weeks in a hotel before I did any training.  

Tuipulotu, here pictured during one of his first Glasgow training sessions, admitted to dark days stuck in a hotel during the pandemicTuipulotu, here pictured during one of his first Glasgow training sessions, admitted to dark days stuck in a hotel during the pandemic (Image: SNS) “I remember there were some pretty dark days. I was thinking about going home, to be honest, because it was getting a bit tough. 

“But I'm so glad that I made the move to come over.” 

Asked if he was surprised by his rapid rise in the national team, he replied: “I put my heart and soul into my journey here. And I've worked really hard to get to this point, not only with Scotland, but also with Glasgow.  

“I've been lucky enough to land in the lap of some coaches that believed in my talent. I suppose I mix that with working hard and stuff like that. And now I'm here. So I'm really grateful for everything." 

Handing Tuipulotu the captaincy is the latest leadership change from Townsend, who had Jamie Ritchie as captain at the World Cup before Darge and Russell took over for the Six Nations.  

A selection of players – including Tuipulotu as co-captain against Chile – were employed during the summer tour.  

He’s adamant it won’t weigh heavy on his shoulders.  

Tuipulotu said: “It's something that I've actually had to actively think about just because I think captaining a club is a lot different to captaining a country in Test Rugby. And I'm not delusional to that at all. 

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu and vice-captain Rory DargeScotland captain Sione Tuipulotu and vice-captain Rory Darge (Image: SNS Group / SRU) "I'm trying to change as little as possible. There's just more responsibility - more media, more responsibility on game day with talking to refs and out in the training ground.  

“But I like to think some of those things come naturally to me.” 

The new captain, whose brother Mosese is also in the Scotland squad, will have plenty of family in the stands as he leads out Scotland for the first time.  

“My mum's over here for the whole Autumn Nations,” he said.  

"She's been giving Lara [his partner] a massive helping hand at home while I'm in camp just with TJ [their son].  

"She hasn't been to a Murrayfield game before, so pretty cool that her first game at Murrayfield will be, you know, me captaining.” 

Tuipulotu qualifies for Scotland through his grandmother from Greenock Jaqueline Thomson and he revealed how she has taken the news.  

"I think my grandma's finally figured out how to use social media and she started replying to some of the fans online, which is hilarious.  

“She's stoked and she'll be up early in the morning watching our games and I'm really happy for her that she gets to see me captain but also Ces [Mosese] in the squad as well.” 

Tuipulotu has been linked with a move away from Glasgow when his contract runs out at the end of the season, with Bath and Harlequins, plus Stade Francais reportedly interested in his services.  

Tuipulotu said: “I've got six months left at Glasgow and like I said, I'm desperate to win and I really feel like Glasgow at the moment is a winning team and it's fun to play rugby for Glasgow at the moment.  

Sione Tuipulotu was an integral part of Glasgow's URC title win - but his future could lie elsewhereSione Tuipulotu was an integral part of Glasgow's URC title win - but his future could lie elsewhere (Image: SNS)

“In terms of the future after that. There's not much I can say about it but all I can say is that I'm happy in Scotland and I'm happy in Glasgow.” 

But he did not rule out a move away from Scotstoun, adding: “As a rugby player you have to look at your future, it's a short career.  

“I believe for myself anyways that my happiness outside of rugby has a heavy influence on how I play on the field and I know my family's happy at the moment in Glasgow, at least for the next six months, and I'm happy there as well.”