Hutchinson has been in good form for Saints so far this season, starting all four of their Gallagher PREM games as well as the Investec Champions Cup win against Cardiff Rugby.

His start to the campaign has been made even more impressive given that he had to overcome illness during pre-season, explaining last week that he had to go to hospital, where he was placed on a drip.

Reflecting on his start to this campaign, Hutchinson, who is now in his testimonial year with Saints, told this publication last week: "It's been alright. I didn't have the best pre-season. Obviously it was short anyway off the back of the summer tour (with Scotland) then we (Saints) went to Sri Lanka, then I was bed-bound and I went to hospital the week after because I was pretty ill so that kind of cut two weeks out of my pre-season. Then it's just trying to find your feet as quickly as you can.

"I'm happy but there's still more growth. Overall I'm building back in and there's never enough time to slowly build you back in but I'm happy so far."

Explaining the pre-season setback he had to overcome, Hutchinson said: “I was so ill. I've never been that ill. I was on a drip and everything. I don't know what it was. I did all the blood tests and nothing too serious came back. It was not ideal but hey, we're here now and we're all good."

Hutchinson will now prepare for one more Saints game before linking up with Scotland as Phil Dowson's men host PREM table-toppers Gloucester on Saturday evening (kick-off 5.30pm).

Scotland squad for 2026 Nations Championship fixtures at Scottish Gas Murrayfield (caps in brackets)

Forwards: Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (37), Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (17), Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (19), Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (52), Alex Craig – Glasgow Warriors (7), Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors (41), Jack Dempsey – Toshiba Brave Lupus (35), Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (66), Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (84), Jonny Gray – Perpignan (83), Gregor Hiddleston – Glasgow Warriors (3), Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (11), Ollie Leatherbarrow – Newcastle Red Bulls (uncapped), Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (8), Liam McConnell – Edinburgh Rugby (2), Elliot Millar Mills – Newcastle Red Bulls (15), Jamie Ritchie – Glasgow Warriors (63), Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (52), Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (51), Seb Stephen – Glasgow Warriors (1), Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (15).

Backs: Fergus Burke – Saracens (5), Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (22), Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (57), George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (47), Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints (13), Huw Jones – Toulon (63), Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (20), Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (68), Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (18), Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (19), Finn Russell – Bath Rugby (95), Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors (13), Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (35), Sione Tuipulotu – Captain – Glasgow Warriors (41), Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (54), Ben White – Toulon (38).