FORMER Glasgow flanker Kelly Brown will skipper Scotland in Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash with England at Twickenham in the Scots' RBS 6 Nations Championship opener.

Brown retains the captaincy despite being the main man for all three of the losing EMC Tests in November, culminating in the defeat by Tonga, after which Andy Robinson quit as Scotland head coach.

But new interim head coach Scott Johnson has plumped for Brown ahead of Glasgow Warriors captain Al Kellock.

Johnson said: "It was right and proper that the coaches considered captaincy at the same time as we were looking at selection of our squad for the England game.

"We believe Kelly has the qualities we are looking for to captain Scotland.

"Captaincy is about deed in my book, not Churchillian oratory, and the knowledge and experience that Kelly brings to the Test match arena is good for this team.

"We are also looking at our leadership group and I'll be naming two vice-captains in the team that we announce tomorrow."

The 52-times capped Saracens back row missed out on last season's Six Nations thanks to a horror leg injury and can't wait to lead the Scots out at Twickenham on Saturday.

The Scotland captain said: "It's a huge honour to captain Scotland.

"The job now, though, is to work with all the other players in the squad to deliver a performance to make the country proud this weekend.

"It's a while since I've played against England. I missed out through injury in last year's Six Nations and I was sidelined during the Rugby World Cup match in Auckland as well, so I'm really raring to go."