Scottish Rugby

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  1. Have your say on Scotland's win against Walespublished at 19:46 BST 23 August 2025

    Have your say graphic

    Scotland have beaten Wales 38-8 in their Women's World Cup opener.

    Fran McGhie scored three of the Scots' six tries and they face Fiji next in Pool B.

    Who impressed you? How far can Scotland go in the tournament?

    Send us your thoughts

  2. What did the pundits say about 'fantastic' Scotland's win?published at 19:30 BST 23 August 2025

    Scotland and Wales playersImage source, PA Media

    Scotland captain Lisa Martin on BBC Radio Wales

    It's the ability of the backs to get the ball into the hands, and creating problems for Wales' backline.

    You give Fran McGhie a one-on-one like that and it's always going to end in a try.

    BBC Scotland rugby reporter Andy Burke

    Scotland's potency lies in their back three and it was demonstrated perfectly with that [fourth] try.

    Rhona Lloyd came off her wing and into the line, drew in the defence with some near footwork then timed her pass to Fran McGhie to perfection.

    There was still a bit to do, but as we have seen since she arrived in Test rugby, McGhie knows her way to the try line.

    Former Wales wing Caryl James on BBC Radio Cymru

    Scotland were fantastic, they knew exactly what they wanted to do. Even though they've struggled off the field, they didn't show it on the pitch.

    It looks like what's happened off the pitch motivated them and they put in a heroic performance.

  3. Scotland have experience to deal with World Cup pressure - Eassonpublished at 18:41 BST 22 August 2025

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

    Bryan EassonImage source, SNS

    Scotland head coach Bryan Easson believes his team now possess the necessary experience to make an impact at the Women's Rugby World Cup after some painful lessons at the last tournament in 2021.

    Narrow defeats to Wales and Australia led to the Scots' exit at the pool stage three years ago.

    Scotland and Wales renew rivalries in the Pool B opener in Salford on Saturday, and Easson thinks his group is more equipped to deal with the pressure of World Cup rugby.

    "I think probably for us there was a lot of frustration at the last World Cup," Easson said.

    "We didn't perform at the level we wanted to with two really close games against Wales and Australia, which was really frustrating.

    "We probably didn't have the experience then to be able to get us through. A lot of the selection this weekend has been around that experience, to be able to lean on the experience of that team, lean on the leadership group.

    "Rachel (Malcolm) and her leadership group have been exceptional the whole week, just keeping everybody's feet on the ground, make sure we're simmering and we'd then hope that that experience when they're on the pitch can make decisions when the pressure comes on, because undoubtedly there's going to be pressure.

    "We understand the magnitude of the game and to have those experience heads on the pitch during that time hopefully will just bring us through."

  4. Scotland ready for 'niggly' Wales in World Cup openerpublished at 18:30 BST 22 August 2025

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

    Caity MattinsonImage source, SNS

    Scrum-half Caity Mattinson says Scotland will have to match the physicality and "niggle" of Wales if they are to get their Women's Rugby World Cup campaign off to a winning start.

    The sides meet in the Pool B opener at the Salford Community Stadium on Saturday.

    Mattinson hopes the Scots can avenge the 18-15 loss to Wales that contributed to their pool-stage exit at the last World Cup in 2021.

    "There's definitely added excitement with it being a repeat of our opening in the 2021 World Cup," Mattinson said.

    "There's no shying away from how big a game this is on Saturday. We've spoken massively about a fast start.

    "I think we match their physicality. Wales are always a physical side that always is a niggle to it, and we have to be ready for that and raise it.

    "We've been through a lot together over the last four years as a squad, and I don't believe there's a squad that cares more about each other in this World Cup than how we feel about each other as a team.

    "It probably won't ever look the same again, this group of players will probably not play together again, and we'll absolutely make the most of fighting for one another every step of the way."

  5. Scotland squad 'stronger' after contracts dispute - Rolliepublished at 17:09 BST 21 August 2025

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

    Chloe Rollie during a Scotland Women's World Cup squad announcement at the Old CourseImage source, SNS

    Scotland full-back Chloe Rollie says the uncertainty about player contracts has brought the squad closer together as they prepare for Saturday's Women's Rugby Cup opener against Wales.

    Disagreements between the squad and Scottish Rugby have played out publicly leading up to the tournament, with Scotland wing Rhona Lloyd claiming over half the 32-player squad will be left without deals after the tournament.

    The row has overshadowed much of the World Cup build-up, but Rollie says the team will not allow any off-field issues to affect their performances.

    "I think we've had all those discussions that we needed to have about contracts," Rollie said.

    "As soon as we got here it's not been something we spoke about, we've kind of taken it on our heads and just decided that's done, that's it.

    "We're here now to focus on a World Cup. It's the biggest part of our careers so far and some girls' first World Cup, some girls' maybe last World Cup.

    "There's so many variables around it that we just need to leave it and just get on with what we're here to do now.

    "We've kind of just pulled together even stronger and looking ahead to each weekend as it comes, just focussing on what we need to do in the moment rather than what's passed and what's to come."

  6. How a Murrayfield mistake sparked worldwide trendpublished at 17:05 BST 15 August 2025

    General view of Murrayfield during the Scottish national anthemImage source, SNS

    Scottish Rugby has revealed the iconic a capella second verse of Flower of Scotland began thanks to an innocent mistake from a 21-year-old freelancer.

    As Murrayfield Stadium turns 100 years old, the governing body explained how what has become a staple of Scotland matches around the world began during a Six Nations game against France in 2008.

    Julie Beels - now Scottish Rugby events lead - was working as a freelance entertainment producer at Murrayfield and said the misunderstanding which led the pipe band to stop playing halfway through the anthem happened during a pre-match sound check.

    "It's funny to look back on now, but at the time I thought I'd lose my job," the 39-year-old said.

    "We'd only played both verses before, and at the sound check the pipe band asked if we wanted it once or twice and I said, 'Once is fine – it's only the sound checks'. I thought they knew we'd play both verses for real ahead of the match.

    "Minutes later, the pipers stopped playing after the first verse of the anthem and my heart just sank. There I was, in front of 67,000 people, thinking, 'That's it. I'm done'.

    "But the crowd just kept singing – louder and louder – completely unaccompanied. It gave me goosebumps. From there, it grew a special following.

    "Scotland has never had an anthem singer because at Murrayfield the crowd is the singer. It reached a new level that day."

    Ms Beels added: "It could – and probably should – have been the worst moment of my career, but instead it's the highlight.

    "It's amazing the way it's now done around the world, but I can't help but think 'hey – that's our thing'."

    Although Scotland lost 27-6 that day, Scotland's record points-scorer Chris Paterson said it was a "special" moment.

    "The game was pretty forgettable, but the memory of the anthem that day is still vivid," he said.

    "I can remember initially thinking it must be a mistake and being a bit confused, but as we sang through the second verse the noise rose and the connection with those in the stadium grew.

    "I then assumed it must have been deliberate. Whether you're a player, coach, fan, or watching at home - it's special. It's an amazing part of what it means to be part of Scottish rugby."

  7. Rollie inspired to push for Lions recognitionpublished at 17:29 BST 12 August 2025

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

    Chloe RollieImage source, SNS

    Chloe Rollie says the British and Irish Lions' series win in Australia has fuelled her desire to be part of the inaugural women's tour in 2027.

    The first female Lions squad will head for New Zealand in two years' time and Scotland full-back Rollie would love to be part of that historic moment.

    She says watching Andy Farrell's Lions – featuring the likes of Scotland's Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones and Blair Kinghorn – defeat the Wallabies this summer gave her a taste of what might be possible in her own future.

    "I think in the past it's not really had that effect because it was it was never an opportunity that we thought we were going to have," Rollie told the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast.

    "Now watching it and seeing all the different nations coming together and performing as a team, it really pushes you to want to do that as well.

    "I would say it's probably the pinnacle of your career. It's definitely a target that I personally want to push for.

    "Looking at the men's side, there was a lot of Scots in it and that makes us really proud as a nation and I think there's no reason why that can't be the same in the women's side.

    "We're a small nation but that doesn't matter, we still want to strive to be the best of the best of world rugby."