Scottish Rugby

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rhona Lloyd says there are positives to take from Scotland's 64-26 WXV defeat to Canada, but admits they were too easy to play against as the visitors ran in 10 tries.

Lloyd was among the try-scorers as the Scots ran in four of their own, and the experienced winger believes there were opportunities missed that would have made the final scoreboard much closer.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game, they were second in the world for a reason," Lloyd told BBC Scotland.

"But I think there's bits of that game I'm so proud of. I think there was patches of that game where we went toe-to-toe, but then there was patches that I think were too soft and too easy to score against.

"I think our attack and breakdown wasn't good enough. There were phases in defence that we definitely could have held them up for longer, but this feels a bit like a new chapter and a new era for us, and I think there was a lot of positives for this being the first step in that.

"It was frustrating the opportunities that I feel like we left out there. I need to watch it back, but it felt like, although I'm proud we scored four tries, I think there's another four that should have been scored that we didn't give the last pass away. We weren't brave enough.

"There's a lot to reflect on, so yes, really frustrated. But bits to be proud of."

World Cup finalists Canada proved too strong for Scotland as they ran in 10 tries to register a resounding win in their WXV Series opener in Edinburgh.

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Interim head coach Dave Butcher: "Canada are a top three side in the world consistently for a reason.

"They're very cohesive. They've been together for a long time and very well coached. So, yes, we absolutely knew what was coming down the pipe at us.

"I think for us, we were disappointed in the scoreline, but the endeavour we showed and the identity we were trying to create came out in small patches.

"I think now it's up to us to make those small patches into longer patches, to put consistent pressure on people.I really want to reward the endeavour that the team showed.

"We can't make as many unforced errors,but I love the endeavour that they showed and you could see the identity we tried to create coming through."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Fly-half Helen Nelson says Scotland will not allow the unexpected departure of head coach Sione Fukofuka to negatively impact their performances in the WXV Series.

Fukofuka departed last month citing a desire to be closer to his family in Australia, only to be announced as the new Australia head coach a little over a week later.

Scottish Rugby expressed surprise at Fukofuka's Wallaroos appointment having released him on compassionate grounds, but Nelson said the players have moved on quickly under interim head coach Dave Butcher as they prepare to face Canada in their WXV opener on Saturday.

"By the time that we came into camp, they'd done a lot of work behind the scenes to make sure that we were in a good place and that actually for players, it was pretty seamless, the transition," Nelson told BBC Scotland.

"I think the vibe Dave set and the ethos about camp has been really, really good and we've worked hard the last few weeks.

"We're in a good place now in terms of how we want to play. We've got a strong identity, defensively and attack, and we want to go and test that."

The last meeting between the sides was a 40-19 victory for Canada in the pool stage of last year's Rugby World Cup.

Despite the final scoreline, Scotland competed well against a side who went on to reach the final, and Nelson hopes they can do so again at Hive Stadium on Saturday.

"I think the Canadians thrive in kind of unpredictable play, that's how they want to be," she said.

"So we've prepared ourselves as best we can for that. I think the nature of them is you don't really know what's coming. That game at the World Cup, I really enjoyed.

"I think we went toe to toe with them at times and it's now just putting in that 80-minute performance."

Elise Brand
BBC Sport Scotland

Wing Shona Campbell has played down the effect of Scotland's recent coaching upheaval and says the team are used to just getting on with their jobs.

Saturday's WXV opener against Canada will be the first match under interim head coach Dave Butcher, following Sione Fukofuka's surprise departure at the beginning of August.

After facing the Canadians, Scotland have Tests against New Zealand and Australia.

"Dave's amazing. Everyone really, really likes him," Campbell said.

"I think the group's very used to just getting on next job kind of thing. And everyone's just bought into what Dave's trying to do here.

"And everyone's just focused on our little community, our little bubble and building that. So that's been the focus for us."

On the prospect of taking on last year's beaten World Cup finalists this weekend, Campbell said: "You want to play against the best and challenge yourself against the best, so having that opportunity is really exciting."

Canada beat Scotland 40-19 in the World Cup group stages, but Campbell says the side will take confidence from that performance.

"I think there's a level of confidence that can be taken out of that, being able to perform against the best," she said.

"But it's a very different squad. It's a very different cycle. And we're just trying to see it as a new opportunity."

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Captain Rachel Malcolm believes Scotland's challenging start to the upcoming WXV tournament will stand them in good stead.

The Scots face beaten World Cup finalists Canada in their opening fixture on Saturday before taking on New Zealand a week later. They then play Australia in three straight matches.

"Canada were World Cup finalists last year, so we're definitely not starting off easy," Malcolm told BBC Radio Scotland.

"You want to play the best and be challenged. The focus is on us - we need to start building performances and learn about ourselves.

"There's no better way to do that than playing against some of the best teams in the world who will expose where we're weak. We can learn from that and then go into three Tests against Australia as strong as we can be.

"It will be a tough couple of weeks but an important step in our journey."

Malcolm missed the final three matches of this year's Six Nations, but is back to lead a new-look squad picked by interim head coach Dave Butcher.

Glasgow Warriors trio Imogen Spence, Ceitidh Ainsworth and Nicole Flynn could win their first caps, as could Exeter Chiefs wing Katie Buchanan.

"It's really important at this stage in a World Cup cycle that we have new players coming in. We've had a month-long pre-season and more time on the training park.

"In terms of gelling, we're definitely in a much better place than we were pre-Six Nations."

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Glasgow Warriors have confirmed hooker Grant Stewart has left the club prior to the start of the new season.

The 31-year-old was in his second spell at Glasgow after coming through the academy and making his professional debut in 2018 before departing for Connacht.

He was part of the Warriors side that reached the 2019 Pro14 final at Celtic Park, scoring a try in the match.

Stewart rejoined Glasgow two years ago but has now left the club again after making 61 appearances across his two stints.

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Edinburgh have appointed Michael Hodge as their skills and contact coach on a two-year deal.

Hodge, 37, joins from the Irish Rugby Football Union, where he coached at both under-18 and under-20 level.

He joins Tim Sampson, Brad Davis and Stevie Lawrie in head coach Sean Everitt's backroom staff.

"It's great to complete our coaching team for 2026-27," Everitt said.

"Tim and Brad have already brought new ideas and energy into the environment, and Stevie has continued his brilliant work with our forward pack.

"Michael comes in at a really positive time for the club. He's a young and highly-rated coach who will bring fresh ideas and expertise to our skills and contact work, and that gives us even more to look forward to as we build towards the new season.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing what he can do with this playing group at Edinburgh Rugby."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Glasgow Warriors expect to be challenging for silverware on two fronts again next season despite another summer of high-profile departures, according to assistant coach Scott Forrest.

Huw Jones, Jack Dempsey and Adam Hastings are among a host of big-name players to have left the club after last season.

It was a similar story last summer when Tom Jordan, Sebastian Cancelliere and Henco Venter left Scotstoun, but Franco Smith's side coped admirably, with thrilling runs in both the United Rugby Championship and the Champions Cup.

After topping the URC table at the end of the regular season, Glasgow were knocked out by the Bulls in the URC semi-finals while their European adventure was ended by Toulon at the quarter-final stage.

Forrest believes Glasgow are equipped to go deep in both competitions once again.

"I think the squad, all the players, everyone involved believes we're in a position to go and we want to go better than we did last year," he told BBC Scotland.

"Ultimately, we didn't win last year and that's what it comes down to. Some of the stats around the highest win percentage in a season, finishing top of the URC in the regular season, it's great, but ultimately you want to win competitions, that's why we're all here.

"I know externally, the media, fans will make a deal about [key players leaving the club]. There's a number of internationals that have left, we've not really, in terms of on paper, replaced like-for-like, but I just think that's the nature of where we are. Players are going to move up and out essentially.

"I think we're fortunate that when you look at the guys we have retained, in terms of internationals, it still forms the core of our squad. Scotland's squad is still very similar so we're confident in that. The other side of it is we've got a lot of young players that are ready to step up.

"That group of academy boys that get announced in terms of their progression and signing their first pro deals, a lot of those guys are ready to go, they're just waiting for their opportunity.

"Likewise, we've got the likes of Gregor Huddleston and Seb Stephen, who go and get their first Scotland caps in the summer. We've got young internationals that actually are ready to go and push on and make a name for themselves.

"I think that's the way we look at it. In terms of names on paper, we've lost some high-quality individuals, but I think as a squad we've got the right blend of senior, experienced players and young, motivated professionals that we feel we can go and do something special this year."

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Scottish Rugby has expressed surprise at Sione Fukofuka's Australia appointment, but will receive compensation for the recently departed women's head coach.

The 47-year-old stepped down from his Scotland job after eight months citing "the stress and the strain" of being apart from his family in Australia.

Performance director David Nucifora had said Scottish Rugby fully respected and understood Fukofuka's reasons for leaving.

Now Fukofuka has signed a contract with the Wallaroos until the 2029 Rugby World Cup, although he will not take up the position until January.

"This is an unusual situation in so far as we released Sione on compassionate grounds a week ago," said Scottish Rugby via a statement.

"Whilst we always expected Sione to work again and would never wish to hold anyone back, we were surprised to learn of this news so quickly.

"We have a release agreement in place with Sione, which will allow him to take up his post at the start of 2027, and an agreement in place with Rugby Australia who will pay Scottish Rugby an agreed fee."

Fukofuka was previously United States women head coach, Queensland Reds women attack coach and Wallaroos assistant coach.

He said: "I would like to express my gratitude to Scottish Rugby for their understanding of my family situation and desire to return home to Australia.

"Although a difficult decision to leave the Scottish role, this opportunity allows me to be in Sydney closer to my family. I wish the players and staff all the best for the future.

"I know many of the players and coaches well from my time in the Queensland and Australian systems and, as we transition to a full-time program this year, the opportunity for growth is enormous."

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Former Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie is confident that a switch to Glasgow Warriors will suit his style as he looks forward to reuniting with some old friends.

The flanker, 29, spent 11 years playing with Edinburgh before spending last season in France with Perpignan.

"For me, obviously seeing the success that Glasgow have had over the last few years is a huge motivating factor in wanting to join the group," Ritchie said in a club interview.

"Obviously I know a lot of the boys really well and I have a great deal of respect for Franco Smith's coaching and what he's done here.

"I think the way they play rugby will suit how I like to play and hopefully I can contribute really well here. I'm really excited.

"The biggest thing that comes to mind when we were previewing Glasgow whenever we (at Edinburgh) came to play them was always the threat they had with ball in hand.

"So for me, I'm really excited to be part of that. I think there's parts of my game that can contribute to that being done well.

"I would like to think myself as a reasonably skilful player that I can pass the ball well, so when we're in those forwards pods, that part of my game hopefully can contribute well."

Ritchie is familiar with much of the Glasgow squad through their battles with Edinburgh and from his eight years as an international, which has yielded 63 caps.

"There's a couple of guys who I've known a lot longer than our professional careers," he added. "I was at school with Matt and Zander Fagerson.

"George Horne and I have known each other since we were super young, his mum used to be my tennis coach when I was about four years old.

"And I used to live with Ally Miller when we both came up together at Edinburgh, so there's lots of guys in there that I'm super excited to be back seeing on a regular basis."

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Edinburgh have named Louise Dalgliesh as the club's new women's team head coach.

Dalgliesh joins Edinburgh from the University of Edinburgh where she served as head of performance for women's rugby.

She played 67 times for Scotland in her playing career and has previously worked with the Japan national team as well as Premiership Women's Rugby outfit Sale Sharks.

Dalgliesh has also worked as head coach of the Scotland Women Under-20 programme where she worked with young players, many of which are now emerging in the Edinburgh women's squad.

"This is a role I'm hugely proud to be stepping into," the new boss told club media.

"I've absolutely loved my time at The University of Edinburgh and taking on this position feels like a natural next step.

"I've been part of this city's rugby fabric for a long time, in one way or another, and I already know so many of these players from BUCS and the national pathway. That gives me a real head start, but it also makes this exciting for a different reason – I get to keep building with players I've already seen grow.

"Women's rugby is on the rise, and Edinburgh Rugby are right at the front of that push. I can't wait to get started."

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Scotland interim head coach Dave Butcher has named a 32-player squad for the upcoming WXV series, which features four uncapped players.

Glasgow Warriors trio Imogen Spence, Ceitidh Ainsworth and Nicole Flynn could win their first caps, as could Exeter Chiefs wing Katie Buchanan.

Rachel Malcolm returns to captain the side after missing the last three games of this year's Six Nations through injury.

Anne Young, Evie Gallagher, and Sarah Bonar are also back in the squad after returning to fitness.

However, Francesca McGhie, Lisa Thomson and Emily Coubrough are unavailable because of injuries.

The Scots host World Cup runners-up Canada, world number two New Zealand and Australia at Hive Stadium on 12, 19 and 26 September respectively.

Forwards: Leah Bartlett (Sale Sharks), Holland Bogan (Glasgow Warriors), Sarah Bonar (Harlequins), Hollie Cunningham (Bristol Bears), Elliann Clarke (Glasgow Warriors), Eva Donaldson (Sale Sharks), Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears), Rachel Malcolm (Trailfinders Women, captain), Elis Martin (Edinburgh Rugby), Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier), Molly Poolman (Edinburgh Rugby), Imogen Spence (Glasgow Warriors), Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears), Alex Stewart (Edinburgh Rugby), Aicha Sutcliffe (Glasgow Warriors), Demi Swann (Exeter Chiefs), Emma Wassell (Trailfinders Women), Anne Young (Glasgow Warriors).

Backs: Ceitidh Ainsworth (Glasgow Warriors), Leia Brebner-Holden (Edinburgh Rugby), Katie Buchanan (Exeter Chiefs), Shona Campbell (Sale Sharks), Rhea Clarke (Glasgow Warriors), Nicole Flynn (Glasgow Warriors), Rhona Lloyd (Sale Sharks), Helen Nelson (Trailfinders Women), Rachel Philipps (Edinburgh Rugby), Hannah Ramsay (Edinburgh Rugby), Chloe Rollie (Edinburgh Rugby), Lucia Scott (Glasgow Warriors), Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears), Evie Wills (Glasgow Warriors).

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Ollie Smith says a period of soul searching that followed Scotland's November defeats by New Zealand and Argentina was the springboard for a recent upturn in results.

The Scots rounded off the first block of Nations Championship fixtures with a bonus-point win over Fiji, coming off the back of a superb away victory in Argentina and a credible performance in defeat to world champions South Africa in Pretoria.

After taking the scalps of England and France in the Six Nations, Gregor Townsend's side now look forward with confidence to matches against the All Blacks, Australia and Japan a year on from the pain of the last autumn series.

"It's the story of the Scotland team in the past few years - it's always been the what ifs," Smith told BBC Scotland.

"We're so close to doing something so well and it gets away from us. It's just brought us together as a group.

"If you look at how we finished the home series nearly [in November], the performances against New Zealand and Argentina, we were so close against New Zealand and we were 21 points up against Argentina and then ultimately lost.

"The way that some people were commenting on us as a group, I think it really brought us closer together. We really had to look inwardly.

"The Six Nations didn't start the way we wanted to. It was a poor result against Italy but our response against England, the way we finished, playing against France the way we did and putting 50 points on them, I think we really showed the people on the sidelines what we can do and what we can do against the big nations and take it forward into the World Cup next year.

"There's a lot of good rugby to come and a lot of teams that we want to beat."