Scottish Rugby

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Alex Craig will make his Glasgow Warriors debut as Dragons visit Scotstoun on United Rugby Championship duty on Saturday.

Summer signing Craig arrived in Glasgow from Scarlets, but the lock has yet to make it on the pitch following a hamstring injury.

The Scotland cap's inclusion is one of six changes to the starting XV that faced Benetton in last weekend's final-minute defeat in Treviso.

Rory Sutherland and Fin Richardson continue as the starting props, with Gregor Hiddleston coming into the starting line-up as a hooker.

Scott Cummings will make his first start of the season after featuring off the bench in the opening two matches as he partners Craig.

Macenzzie Duncan continues at openside after being awarded player of the match in Italy, as the flanker joins Gregor Brown and Euan Ferrie, who moves off the bench to the back-row.

George Horne returns to the starting XV at scrum half, while Ollie Smith comes back into the midfield after starting on the wing against Sharks a fortnight ago.

Jamie Dobie shifts to the wing after starting at scrum-half last weekend, with captain Kyle Steyn and Josh McKay completing the back-three.

Johnny Matthews drops to the bench for what would be the hooker's 100th appearance in a Glasgow jersey should he come on to the field.

Jare Oguntibeju, Matt Fagerson, who is nursing an ankle injury, and Stafford McDowall miss out altogether from the squad last week.

Glasgow Warriors: McKay, Steyn (c), Smith, S Tuipulotu, Dobie; Hastings, Horne; Sutherland, Hiddleston, Richardson, Craig, Cummings, Brown, Duncan, Ferrie.

Replacements: Matthews, Schickerling, Walker, Samuel, Williamson, Fraser, Afshar, Lancaster.

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BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your Scottish rugby questions.

Andrew asked: After seven years of winning nothing and failing to qualify from a World Cup group, are we all just assuming that Gregor Townsend spending less time [focussing] on the Scotland job isn't going to hurt us?

Tom answered: Well, I don't think he'll be spending less time on the Scotland job. It's a 30-day commitment, but the optics of this Red Bull/Newcastle link are not good at all and he's put more pressure on himself by doing this. If Scotland have a bad autumn, a bad Six Nations and a bad summer then I'm not wholly convinced he makes it to the World Cup.

On your 'winning nothing' point. What do we expect Scotland to win? Ireland and France are better than Scotland. They just are. Expecting some third-place finishes is not unreasonable, I think. It hasn't happened often enough.

Both of his World Cups have been really poor. It's not so much that they got knocked out in the group stage both times, it's that they didn't compete in the biggest games. The heat is on Townsend even more so after that announcement last week. People don't like him having a sideline gig and I can see why.

Doug asked: Franco Smith said we may have to be patient for the next couple of seasons as we build our Scots-qualified depth. Last weekend however seemed a particularly poor episode in game management, like that Ospreys match at Scotstoun last season. We possibly have some unrealistic expectations as Warriors fans but do you think there could be lean seasons ahead or do you think with a little luck with injuries Glasgow can still compete in the URC?

Tom answered: Last weekend was pretty weird. I think all of the Glasgow players were a bit lost for words about how they let that game slip, albeit Benetton are a good side who will take a few scalps at home I suspect.

Patience is advised because they've lost a few important players but my view is that Glasgow will still be very close to the top four if not in the top four. The squad is still strong and there are a lot of young players emerging fast. And Franco Smith is an outstanding coach and mentor.

You're right about injuries. They haven't had much luck on that front - and they'll need a bit more luck this season. It's important they bounce back emphatically against the Dragons and the Ospreys in the next two games.

Harry asked: What would enable Edinburgh to be more competitive while international players are away on Scotland duty? Clubs like Leinster and Bath continue to dominate their games without key players. Is it simply a case of squad depth?

Tom answered: When it comes to Edinburgh, it's a lot of things. It's coaching, its squad depth, it's mental strength, it's leadership, it's basic hunger and desire, it's discipline. Edinburgh can struggle to beat opponents they should be beating even when they have a full squad to pick from. Scotland internationals, Lions, promising young players - and still they lose too many games.

It's the entire culture at Edinburgh that's wrong. It has to be. Their problems have been going on too long under too many different coaches. How do you fix a culture? That's not an easy one to address. There's just something wrong in the bones of Edinburgh Rugby and it's been wrong for a long time. It needs root and branch examination.

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Dylan Richardson will make his Edinburgh debut in Friday's United Rugby Championship meeting with Munster in Limerick.

The Scotland cap's inclusion is one of six changes to the starting XV that faced Zebre in last month's campaign-opening loss in Italy. Edinburgh's match at home to Ulster last week was postponed because of Storm Amy.

Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe start on the wings while Pierre Schoeman, D'arcy Rae and Sam Skinner come into the pack.

Paul Hill and Harry Paterson drops to the bench while Ewan Ashman, Jack Brown, Grant Gilchrist and Luke Crosbie miss out.

Edinburgh: Wes Goosen, Darcy Graham, Piers O'Conor, James Lang, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben Healy, Ben Vellacott; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, D'arcy Rae, Marshall Sykes, Sam Skinner, Liam McConnell, Dylan Richardson, Magnus Bradbury (capt).

Replacements: Paddy Harrison, Boan Venter, Paul Hill, Glen Young, Freddy Douglas, Ben Muncaster, Charlie Shiel, Harry Paterson.

Tom English, Andy Burke and Colin Gregor discuss Gregor Townsend's new consultancy role at Red Bull, what the R360 project says about world rugby as well as the Warriors' defeat to Benetton in the URC.

Listen to the full episode.

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Andy Rhys Jones will become Scottish Rugby's first head of women's performance and pathways in January.

Jones will join from Harlequins, where he is head of women's rugby. He previously worked for Loughborough University and Leicester Tigers.

The announcement of Jones' imminent arrival comes almost two weeks after Scottish Rugby announced 35 women's contracts in place for the 2025-26 season.

"The potential here is vast, and I'm looking forward to working collaboratively with players, coaches, and stakeholders across the pathway to build a system that consistently supports the development of world-class athletes and enables Scotland to thrive on the international stage," Jones told Scottish Rugby.

Performance director David Nucifora added: "We are determined to produce the best young players with a pathway that is sustainable and fit for purpose. This new role is a critical step for Scottish Rugby to be able to do that.

"Andy's expertise in high-performance sport, particularly in the women's game, combined with a proven ability to align operations with player development, makes him exceptionally well-placed to drive forward our ambitions."

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Northampton Saints defence coach Lee Radford has taken up the same job with Scotland, with the former rugby league player saying he "always aspired to coach on the international stage within rugby union".

The 46-year-old will continue in his role with the English Premiership club this season before going full-time with the national team, with whom he is now contracted until the end of the 2027-28 season.

Radford replaces Steve Tandy, who took over as Wales head coach following the summer tour of Fiji and New Zealand.

The Englishman has been with Northampton for two years, helping them win the league title in 2024, having previously been defence coach for Samoa as they reached the final of the Rugby League World Cup, losing out to Australia.

"To get that opportunity with a nation like Scotland is an incredibly proud moment," Radford told Scottish Rugby.

"I've visited the Scotland camp a couple of times in the last few years and have come away with a great feeling about the place.

"The management are well connected and it's a tight playing group. There's a brilliant chemistry and that's so important.

"Scotland have been very sound defensively over the last few years and there are similarities to how they defend compared to Northampton. My job will be to continue that cohesion as well as adding some of my own touches."

Head coach Gregor Townsend said he "placed huge importance" on finding "a high-quality replacement" for Tandy.

"Lee fits the bill perfectly," he added. "Lee brings a wealth of experience from rugby league and union on the defensive area of the game and will be able to build on the good work that has been done in that area over the last few years."

Grant Young
Fan writer

Glasgow's defeat in Italy was a proper tale of two halves - is this the new norm?

A strong opening 30 minutes wasn't enough as we succumbed to a last-minute drop goal in Treviso. That is now back-to-back defeats on the road to Benetton after being humbled in May.

A strong opening from Glasgow provided positivity but, just like last week, errors in attack cost dearly.

Despite being majorly on the back foot in the second half the Warriors still generated chances from their strong defence, but failed to score a single point.

The game was decided near the end after two pivotal moments. George Horne kicked straight out from halfway, gifting territory, and then Stafford McDowall fired a pass with minutes on the clock that went forward and resulted in Benetton snatching victory.

The defeat leaves a lot to ponder for the coaching staff and it is perhaps time for some big conversations. That was a good strong team fielded in Italy, so why are Glasgow struggling to win?

Away victories are difficult in the URC but teams looking to contend come the play-offs need to be winning on their travels.

Attention now turns back to Scotstoun, with Dragons in town on Saturday seeking their first win.

Glasgow, though, have blown the Dragons away across the past five meetings, so it's definitely a good game to bounce back in.

Got any burning questions on Scottish rugby? Our chief sportswriter Tom English is ready to answer them.

Send them in via this link and a selection of answers will be published on this page later in the week.

We asked for your views on Glasgow Warriors' shock defeat to Benetton in the URC.

Here's what some of you said:

Robert: It is a game of 80 minutes and you have to keep going and continually apply pressure. This was an unnecessary loss.

Paul: Disappointing result after getting into a winning position. Defence was pretty good throughout. Attack not in top gear yet and couldn't really capitalise on first half dominance. Credit to Treviso for hanging in there and kicking on, but Glasgow didn't help themselves in failing to keep possession in that second half.

Glasgow put out a strong side. Let's hope it's just early season rust or the Italian curse rather than a sign of things to come.

Wee Whitey: Despite a dreadful second half, this game should have been Glasgow's. Pragmatism is a stranger at Scotstoun. Ignoring kickable penalties, trying to run out of the 22 with the slimmest of leads was madness.

Pump the ball up the pitch and put your best chase on it. Only have themselves to blame. Not sure what the coach will make of it, but it seems like his mindset.

Gus: Very poor show, in control of most of the game.Have too learn to be streetwise.

James: Championship-winning teams don't lose that game. There's a lack of leadership in that squad, especially in the forwards. The poor game management and failure to adapt to Treviso's change in tactics was embarrassing.

Doug: First half was encouraging and we should've been out of sight but second half we were ragged and undisciplined. Credit to Benetton who took their chances and upped their game.

This sort of defeat where we switch off is the sort that is costly when it comes to securing a home semi. This is the maddening inconsistency of being a Scottish rugby fan.

Robert: Should have been out of sight before half-time. Small errors in second half proved costly but playing for territory in the last quarter is surely what's required when it's a one point game? Gutted to have lost that.

An final minute drop-goal snatched victory for Benetton as Glasgow Warriors were edged out 16-14 at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

Read the match report.

Let us know your thoughts.

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Scotland centre Sione Tuipulotu will make his first Glasgow appearance of the new URC season when the Warriors face Benetton in Treviso on Saturday.

The British and Irish Lions star is joined in the starting XV by club captain Kyle Steyn, who returns on the wing.

The Scotland regulars are two of seven changes in the Warriors line-up. Rory Sutherland comes in at loosehead, while Gregor Brown and Maccenzie Duncan go into the back-row at blindside and openside respectively.

It's all change in the half-backs, with Jamie Dobie and Adam Hastings starting together.

Euan Ferrie, George Horne and Dan Lancaster drop to the bench, while Scotland skipper Rory Darge misses out with an injury picked up in the opening-day win over Sharks.

He adds to an already-long injury list at Scotstoun. Summer signings Alex Craig (hamstring), Charlie Savala and Tavi Tuipulotu are already in the treatment room, while stars like Jack Dempsey, Zander Fagerson and Huw Jones continue to recover from injuries.

Jamie Bhatti, Kerr Yule and Ollie Smith miss out altogether from the squad last week.

Glasgow Warriors: McKay, Steyn (c), McDowall, S Tuipulotu, Rowe; Hastings, Dobie; Sutherland, Matthews, Richardson, Oguntibeju, Samuel, Brown, Duncan, M Fagerson.

Replacements: Hiddleston, Schickerling, Talakai, Williamson, Cummings, Ferrie, Horne, Lancaster.

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Friday's planned United Rugby Championship (URC) fixture between Edinburgh and Ulster has been postponed due to adverse conditions.

The sides were due to meet at Hive Stadium with the initial kick-off time of 20:05 BST brought forward to 19:00 BST to avoid the worst of Storm Amy.

However, worsening conditions in Scotland has prompted the URC to postpone the game with forecast storm winds making it unsafe to move the game to another venue.

Edinburgh managing director Douglas Struth said: "We were set to welcome a capacity crowd for tonight's game.

"However, the safety of supporters, players, partners, and everyone associated with this weekend's fixture is of the utmost importance so, while disappointing, it is absolutely the right decision to postpone tonight's game considering the escalating weather reports overnight.

"This decision has not been taken lightly. We have worked closely with the URC, Scottish Rugby, the Met Office and local authorities to ensure it is the best-informed choice."

The URC said it will now consider available dates with broadcasters and both clubs to reschedule the game.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Head coach Sean Everitt says Edinburgh will be energised by the return of Darcy Graham as his side look to bounce back from defeat by Zebre when they face Ulster on Friday.

It is a game that has had its kick-off brought forward by just over an hour to 19:00 BST to avoid the worst of Storm Amy.

Edinburgh opened their United Rugby Championship campaign with a disappointing loss in Italy, although Everitt denied it had been "a lacklustre, or a heartless, performance" from his team.

The South African admits, though, that his side must get league points on the board early to avoid last season's late scramble to reach the play-offs.

Everitt hopes the return of Scotland wing Graham, who has recovered from the ankle injury he suffered in his single appearance for the Lions in the summer, will help Edinburgh bounce back against Ulster.

"It's great to have Darcy back with his experience, number one," Everitt said.

"Number two, he's a world-class player. He's very creative in his style of play and he does give the team energy.

"The team will take a lot of confidence out of having him on the right wing."

Everitt does not wish to dwell on Edinburgh's poor start to the season and wants his side to put the defeat by Zebre behind them for their first home game of the campaign.

"It is frustrating because it's not the start that you had planned and were hoping for," he said.

"I'd rather those mistakes happen in round one than in round 16. So the guys are positive and we know that Edinburgh always fight back after disappointment."

Paul Hill faces a late fitness test on a calf injury and Angus Williams will replace the prop on the bench if he is ruled out.

Edinburgh: Wes Goosen, Darcy Graham, Piers O'Conor, James Lang, Duhan van der Merwe, ⁠Ben Healy, Ben Vellacott; Pierre Schoeman, ⁠Ewan Ashman, ⁠D'arcy Rae, ⁠Marshall Sykes, Grant Gilchrist, ⁠Liam McConnell, ⁠Hamish Watson, ⁠Magnus Bradbury (capt).

Replacements: Paddy Harrison, James Whitcombe, Angus Williams/Paul Hill*, ⁠Sam Skinner, Freddy Douglas, ⁠Charlie Shiel, ⁠Findlay Thomson, ⁠Harry Paterson.

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BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your Scottish rugby questions.

David asked: Are Edinburgh a hopeless basket case? We can't keep having more of the same, ad nauseam, as you've said yourselves, so what can be done?

Tom answered: Fraser Brown was on the Scotland Rugby podcast this week and he had some very interesting thoughts on the state of Edinburgh. He advocates a complete overhaul and empowering a new regime to rip it up and start again. A four-year plan.

Edinburgh are just limping along from one season to the next. Enough is enough. There needs to be a dramatic rethink there; new chief executive, new coaching set-up and clear out some of the time-servers in the dressing room. Some of them have been there for too long.

There remains a feeling that too many in this Edinburgh squad don't feel it the way the Glasgow players feel it. It's not all about the coach, because multiple coaches have been tried - different types of coaches as well - and none of them have cracked it.

There should be a major examination of the way Edinburgh operate. The place remains a terrible under-achiever and that result last weekend was grim. They'll probably beat Ulster at the weekend - it would be typical of them to win well - and this yo-yo existence will carry on for another season. It's tiresome.

Andrew asked: How realistic are reports linking Ben White to Edinburgh next season? What might that mean for Ben Vellacott, who Gregor Townsend doesn't seem to value?

Tom answered: Ben White's contract at Toulon is up at the end of the season. Sean Everitt was asked about this last week and he said he'd be interested in any Test player who might be available but pointed out that there was nothing in it as yet.

White is an excellent player, but I struggle to see why he would move to a failing club like Edinburgh. I presume he'd have more attractive offers on the table if and when the time comes to leave Toulon.

Tam asked: With Huw Jones out of the autumn internationals, who is likely to take his place?

Tom answered: Personally, I'd go with a midfield of Sione Tuipulotu at 12 and Cam Redpath at 13. Both are natural 12s, I know, but Redpath has played 13 a fair bit and I wouldn't have any worries about him. He's a wonderful footballer - creative and smart and a good defender - and his confidence is high having won the league with Bath last season.

There are other combinations, though. Tom Jordan and Tuipulotu. Rory Hutchinson and Tuipulotu (or Tuipulotu and Hutchinson), Tuipulotu and Stafford McDowall. There's still some very good players to pick from in Huw Jones' absence.

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

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Scottish Rugby's communications department is at pains to point out that Gregor Townsend's deal on rugby strategy is with Red Bull, the global brand, rather than with Newcastle Red Bulls, the one rugby club that the global brand actually owns.

Maybe it was a fear of failing foul of conflict of interest rules, but there was a fair amount of dancing on the head of a pin from some at Murrayfield.

If Townsend has no involvement with Red Bull's rugby team in the Premiership, who, exactly, is he advising on rugby strategy, philosophy and culture?

Perhaps these things are entirely unconnected but Wednesday brought further news from Newcastle Red Bulls.

• Jonny Petrie, a former Scotland team-mate of Townsend's, is their new managing director.

• Neil McIlroy, Townsend's fellow Borderer, is the new sporting director/general manager.

• John Fletcher, currently head of pathways at the SRU, will become Newcastle Red Bulls academy and pathways director later in the year.

It's already been termed by some fans as a Scottish takeover. If Townsend is not advising the rugby club, these new additions must be a series of co-incidences.

There is a hope - expressed quietly within Murrayfield - that connections with a giant organisation such as Red Bull will have benefits not just for Townsend and his hunger for knowledge, but also for the SRU.

The SRU has no money to create a much-needed third professional team to sit alongside Glasgow and Edinburgh. They need to get more games into their younger players and they have limited scope to do it.

There is no business link between the SRU and the Red Bulls, but if underplayed young Scots can be loaned out to this ambitious new club and given more game-time than they might get at home, that could help their development.

No discussion of this sort has taken place, and maybe none will, but Townsend now having a foot in the Red Bull world could be of use down the line - to him and to the SRU in general.

A source close to Murrayfield said that if a relationship with Red Bull blossomed to the point that their rugby team could become a sort of third outlet for Scottish players then the SRU would "up for that conversation."

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Former Scotland and Glasgow hooker Fraser Brown believes Franco Smith's extended stay is "healthy" for both Warriors and Scottish rugby.

Despite attracting interest from elsewhere the South African agreed a new contract last month, which ties him to the club as head coach until 2028, having overseen a period of success since his arrival in 2022.

Glasgow opened their URC campaign on Friday with a 35-19 bonus point victory over Sharks at Scotstoun.

"For Glasgow, it's brilliant," Brown told the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast.

"They get continuity, they get a world-class coach. I think they've got a world-class coaching team as well.

"Franco, he's a very complex man at times, very emotional man.

"To have him at the helm at Glasgow is healthy for Glasgow and to have him in Glasgow is healthy for Scottish rugby."

Scotland captain and Warriors flanker Rory Darge echoed Brown's praise of the head coach.

"It's great know that Franco is staying on and there's an amount of continuity there with the coaches," he said.

"There have been young boys stepping up, knowing he's going to be here long term."