Scottish Rugby

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Back row Magnus Bradbury says he has "matured a lot" and "learned the importance of setting high standards" after being named Edinburgh captain for the second time.

The Scotland forward, who rejoined the club from Bristol Bears last season, has been appointed for the 2025-26 season.

The 30-year-old was first appointed Edinburgh captain aged just 22 but was stripped of the role following an off-field incident.

Bradbury has impressed since returning to the capital and led the side against Ulster in the final regular-season game, scoring two tries to secure Edinburgh's place in the United Rugby Championship play-offs and seal a spot in the Champions Cup.

He will lead the team at Hive Stadium on Friday night against Ealing Trailfinders in the second match of a pre-season double-header.

"It's an immense honour," said the former academy graduate. "It's my home, my city, and it feels like the right time for me to take on this responsibility.

"I've grown and matured a lot since my last stint as captain in 2017. My time in Bristol alongside experienced internationals really helped me develop as a man and a player.

"I'm a captain who leads by my actions. I want to show the team what it means to put your body on the line and fight for every inch.

"Off the field, I've learned the importance of taking accountability and setting high standards for myself and for the team."

Head coach Sean Everitt believes the leadership of the abrasive Bradbury can inspire Edinburgh to a successful season.

"His deep connection to the city and our supporters was a significant factor in our decision," said Everitt.

"He will have the full support of a great leadership group at the club. We're confident that Magnus leading with purpose will help drive this club forward."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Franco Smith hopes the experiences his Glasgow Warriors players gathered playing alongside their Leinster counterparts for the British and Irish Lions in the summer can help strip away the "aura" of the Irish side.

Warriors were on the end of heavy defeats by Leinster in both their Champions Cup quarter-final and United Rugby Championship semi-final last term.

It was the continuation of a pattern of dominance for Irish sides over their Scottish counterparts at both club and international level in recent years.

Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu and Scott Cummings all contributed to a successful Lions tour that culminated in a 2-1 series win over Australia.

"That experience of sitting in changing room with people that you've given sometimes a lot of respect, suddenly the gloss comes off a little bit," Smith told the BBC's Scotland Rugby Podcast.

"Hopefully they bring that back and realise that the people that we face, or the teams that we face, are beatable. They are normal people.

"We had a lot of injuries in the back end of the season and, especially in the URC semi-final, it was a different group that gained a lot of that experience.

"So we will have a much broader group that will be able to challenge that aura, if that is the word. I don't think we're intimidated by that. We're excited to play them."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith has pleaded for patience from a support hungry for more trophy success.

The defeat by Leinster that ended Glasgow's URC title defence in June sparked a summer of speculation around Smith's future at Scotstoun, with the South African hinting he may seek a new challenge.

He held discussions regarding a role in the England set-up, as well as receiving approaches from Wales, Leicester and the Bulls, before ultimately deciding to commit his future to Glasgow by signing a contract extension to 2028.

Smith admits that, with the departure of players like Tom Jordan and Henco Venter among others over the summer, and a tighter playing budget to operate with this season, he and the Glasgow fans may have to be patient in their wait for further success.

"Every job has its frustrations," Smith told the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast. "It doesn't matter if you sell paint, it's the same story.

"Yes, budget is always a problem. Coaching beats the budget up to a point. Unfortunately, if the plant gets too big for the pot, usually the plant must be either planted in another pot or it dies. Or we must keep it trimmed down.

"It's important for us to bring the next young players through and see if we can't convert some of these academy boys into pros next year. That will lift our number.

"What's important for me is that the current process is only in year one, it's a start. It's not a year seven or a year eight project.

"From my side, I'll have to be patient if I believe that this was year one. I think this year, starting year two, this current young group and the way the academy is set up at the moment can help us.

"If everybody, including our supporters, have patience with that, I think we can maintain a very good record."

We asked for your thoughts after Scotland were knocked out of the World Cup by England at the quarter-final stage.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Jimmy: Firstly, well done the Women's team. I thought they played really well, and despite the odds played excellent against the number one and two ranked teams in the world. Sadly, I think they have been let down by the SRU over contracts, and it just reminds me of England's Will Carling's comment about the hierarchy in the game being full of "old farts".

David: The squad, led by the superb Rachel Malcolm, did really well to get to the quarter-finals. England, even on a not so good day for them, were a step too far. I'm disgusted though at the SRU's treatment of them and I think their behaviour needs some scrutiny.

Daniel: Those at the top of Scottish Rugby who made the decisions to not award contracts to the women's players should be facing the media not hiding like cowards in their boardrooms and plush offices at Murrayfield. They should be backing this incredible group of players who are proud to represent their country despite being let down by the the SRU and a lack of financial backing.

Victoria: I think they should be proud. All week everyone was highlighting how the average Scotland loss to England is by over 50 points, but this performance against an England team that were playing really well, losing by only 32 points, is such progress. Obviously a few things to work on, the lineouts and scrums especially, but I think it would be a sign of good things to come, if Scotland weren't having their professionalism undermined.

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Scotland bowed out of the World Cup after a bruising defeat to England but can be "immensely proud" of their campaign, insists Rachel McLachlan.

A run to the quarter-finals came to an end after a 40-8 loss to the tournament hosts in Bristol.

Having come through their pool in second place after wins over Wales and Fiji, it was Scotland's best World Cup showing since 2002.

There has been acrimony about the number of players left without a contract and the departure of head coach Bryan Easson, which appears to have spurred the team on.

"It's been a really successful Word Cup for us," flanker McLachlan told BBC Scotland. "I'm immensely proud of the squad.

"The strides we've taken in the past two or three years have been absolutely massive and this has been a culmination of that effort.

"In some ways it's the end of an era, with people leaving. It's sad to see them go but I'm excited for whatever comes next."

After conceding six tries to the red-hot favourites for the trophy, centre Emma Orr said: "There was a lot of emotion in the dressing room.

"We've left it all out there and we can walk away with our heads held high."

On the one-sided loss at a rain-soaked Ashton Gate, Molly Wright added: "There are lots of elements of the performance made us proud but there are lots of things we can improve on."

At 34, Wright is one of those cut from Scottish Rugby funding.

"In lots of ways it makes it easy," she explained. "Just enjoy every moment like it's your last. I've had a great time at this World Cup."

'Scotland emptied the tank'

Former international Deborah McCormack, who represented Scotland from 2014-20, was impressed by the heart shown against England after a tough run.

"The first time in a quarter-final in 23 years, they deserve to be on this stage, playing against the best teams in the world," she said.

"It was difficult, they did get suffocated at times but they fought until the absolute end. They never gave up.

"Scotland had three tough pool games and there will be some tired bodies. The starting team will have played a lot more minutes than England and they emptied the tank."

Scotland head coach Bryan Easson, who is leaving his role, reacts to the Women's World Cup quarter-final defeat by England.

MATCH REPORT: Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-finals - England 40-8 Scotland

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Scotland head coach Bryan Easson told BBC Sport: "What we said we wanted to do was to get to the knockout stages of a World Cup. We've done that.

"You don't quarter-finals, semi-finals, finals the first time you ever do it. We've learned from that and we have to use this as a stepping stone. It shouldn't be the end, it should be the start of something.

"We've shown everyone the talent we have, the talent pool that we have, the 23 on the pitch today, the 32 that we've got as well. This has to be a stepping stone and has to be something that pushes everybody forward.

"When you look at the players out there, everybody deserves something moving forward. The professionalism of this group is undoubted, the work they've put in since 2 June, they've shown the talent they have.

"Contracts for them would keep pushing us forward because quarter-finals of World Cups, that's something you want to keep looking for. It's a great experience to have, but you have to work hard for them. We want to keep doing it."

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Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm told BBC Sport: "I'm hugely disappointed with the outcome today, but overall when I reflect on the tournament, I'm immensely proud of how we've turned up, how we've taken steps forward - in terms of how we want to attack, defend, and where we want to take Scotland women.

"What we've seen in this tournament, more so than in any other, is a full squad performance. Every woman who has taken the field with a thistle on her chest has given their absolute all in this tournament.

"We're going to miss [Bryan Easson] hugely. On a personal level, Bryan and I have worked really closely for the majority of my captaincy so it's going to be a big transition for me and also all the girls. He's a brilliant people manager, he's always about putting the person first and he's done a great job of bringing this group together.

"Tyrone Holmes as well, our defence coach, who's completely transformed the way we play as a team over the last six years, is also not in contract after the World Cup. To lose someone of his calibre, and Bryan, is a big hurt to this squad, but we'll go and celebrate them.

On if she had a message to the SRU: "Just to listen. We know this game better than anyone, we're a part of this thing and we all want the same thing. We want to push Scotland women forward, we want to be a part of Scottish rugby, and we want to work together to compete with the likes of England. With the player voice incorporated in that, we can definitely move this sport and this team forward."

It wasn't to be for Scotland, as they suffered another heavy defeat to England to end their World Cup journey at the quarter-final stage.

It marks the end of Bryan Easson's reign as head coach, with Jade Konkel also stepping away from international rugby.

What did you make of the game? What have you made of the tournament?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Lisa Cockburn has become the second Scotland player to announce her retirement ahead of their World Cup quarter-final clash with England.

The Scots are the heavy underdogs going into the game, which could end up being the final match for Konkel and head coach Bryan Easson, were they to lose.

Cockburn, 32, was not named in the squad to face the world's number one side after failing a head injury assessment (HIA) from the final pool match against Canada.

Unlike Konkel, the prop will also retire from club rugby and look to begin a career in coaching.

Cockburn made the first of 37 appearances for Scotland in 2018 and was part of the side that qualified for the delayed World Cup in 2022, although an ACL injury ruled her out of the competition itself.

She returned in time to lift the WXV2 trophy in South Africa in 2023, and featured in all three pool games at the 2025 World Cup.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Although Evie Gallagher does not have any memories of her late father, the Scotland star feels connected to him due to his passion for rugby.

Her dad, Paul, passed when Gallagher was a young child but despite that - and his aptitude for another sporting pursuit - the number eight harbours a feeling of closeness to him.

"He was actually a very good golf player, that was his skill set," Gallagher revealed.

"My mum always says rugby was his passion and he was looking to get into coaching before he passed.

"I don't have any personal memories of my dad, because I was so young [when he died], but I think it's something I've realised as I've grown up - there is emotion there and I can't really control it, it comes out at weird times."

The 25-year-old is known for her passion on the pitch and has been a tyro in the back-row for Scotland during the World Cup, earning plenty of plaudits.

A turnover machine, she is known for her work at the breakdown, powerful ball-carrying and defensive work-rate, and has even been touted to make the future British & Irish Lions squad in 2027.

"I like to think my passion comes from his passion, and it's a way to feel connected to him because I don't have many memories. It's always something I carry with me, which is really special.

"I actually brought one of his retro Scotland rugby shirts with me, and I wore it for my first World Cup shirt presentation.

"It's little things like that, that make feel close to him even though I don't have much to go on. Anything I can get that adds that sentiment, and helps me - in a good way - bring emotion to my game."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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No man or woman has captained Scotland more than Rachel Malcolm.

That's the achievement she'll mark on Sunday against England in the World Cup quarter-final, the first Scotland Women have reached in 22 years.

She has led out her country on 53 occasions. Pretty incredible when you remember she's only got 61 caps.

"Honestly, it's like every press conference, it's a different record that she's breaking," said head coach Bryan Easson. "That's just the mark of the woman, isn't it?

"We presented to Rachel, a few weeks ago, her 50th cap as captain. That was another milestone.

"I asked everybody to give a word to describe her and we put this word map up. Just the word 'Scotland', she just epitomises what we are about."

'Leader', 'passion', 'pride' and 'power' were others. Her teammates Fran McGhie and Lisa Thomson, up next in the press conference, were similarly glowing.

"She had those leadership qualities [from early on], she's an absolute leader and a legend of the game," Thomson said. "We would follow her through a brick wall.

"Her pre-match speeches we've talked about before, but she's absolutely incredible and she knows what makes this group tick on and off the pitch."

McGhie echoed those sentiments: "Rachel's presence is irreplaceable for us and she brings so much to this team.

"If she told us to do something we would, whether we believed it or not, just because we believe in her."

Malcolm was first made captain in 2019 before Easson's appointment the following year and the head coach insisted that the last six years will be remembered for her leadership.

"You look at the progress that this team have made over the years, Rachel is at the heart of it," he said.

"The way she speaks and the way she plays, most importantly. When she does play, she leads from the front. But when she talks, she leads from the front, as well.

"It's the Rachel Malcolm era, I'll be honest. You can't look at the last five, six, seven years without mentioning Rachel.

"The era of this amazing woman on my left is pretty strong, and when we leave this World Cup, I think we'll put our heads well high."

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Scotland forward Jade Konkel is to retire from international rugby following the conclusion of the Women's World Cup.

The 31-year-old will win her 74th cap in Sunday's quarter-final against tournament hosts England, having become the nation's first contracted professional women's player in 2016.

She made her debut aged 19 against the same opponents in the 2013 Six Nations and has since gone on to score 10 tries, the first coming against Italy in 2015.

This is a third World Cup for Konkel, who will continue to captain Harlequins in the Premiership.

She has also represented Scotland in eleven Six Nations campaigns and twice at the WXV2 competition, lifting the title in 2023.

"It's really hard to find the words because I've been in this squad since I was 18, that's literally my entire adult life, and it's because I have had the most incredible 13 years," she said.

"I'm from the Highlands, a very small place on the Black Isle, and never in my wildest dreams did I think I would play for Scotland, let alone move to France, move to London, and have so many incredible memories just from playing a sport.

"It's come with the ups and downs, the injuries, but it's also come with the best memories and ones I will be telling on my death bed because they are some of the most special memories that I will have in my whole entire life."

Scotland head coach Bryan Easson thanked Konkel for her contribution and commitment to the national team.

He said: "She has been a trailblazer for the women's game, setting new standards through her professionalism, leadership and dedication on and off the pitch.

"Her influence over the last decade has been invaluable to the squad, both in terms of performances and the support she has given her teammates."

Claire Thomson
BBC Sport Scotland

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Head coach Bryan Easson says Scotland's "recipe for success" at the Women's World Cup has been to focus themselves as they prepare to face hosts and favourites England in the quarter-finals this weekend.

The Scots finished second in Pool B after victories over Wales and Fiji and a loss to Canada, who are ranked second in the world.

Easson, whose side are huge underdogs in Sunday's game, told BBC Scotland: "It's going to be a huge task to beat a side that is number one in the world and has not been beaten by Scotland in more than 25 years.

"It's in Bristol in front of nearly 30,000 people. It's going to be wet and windy, and one of those Scottish games that we've prayed for. It's going to tough but certainly something we're up for.

"Our recipe for success this World Cup has been to focus on our ourselves. It's not going to change now because it's England and we play them every year."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter at Wentworth

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Scotland and Lions talisman Finn Russell admits he is experiencing a "very different type of nerves" teeing it up among golfing superstars this week.

Russell is taking part in the pro-am at Wentworth, with 38 professionals each playing alongside three amateurs.

It precedes the start of the BMW PGA Championship on Thursday, the flagship event on the DP World Tour.

"It's completely different. I often play in front of 60,000 people, but coming here and hitting a ball, which isn't my strongest, in front of a few hundred is a very different type of nerves," Russell told BBC Scotland.

"It's exciting but I don't know if I'll be saying that when I get to the first tee."

Russell joined a raft of famous faces at Wentworth, including two-time Wimbledon winner Andy Murray, who announced this week he wants to target qualifying for The Open, having become engrossed in the sport since retiring from tennis.

"My brother-in-law is [professional golfer] Ewen Ferguson and I've played with him a couple of times," Russell said.

"Golf is definitely something I want to take more seriously in the future when I retire.

"It's hard when I'm training or playing most days and I have two young kids so days off aren't really days off. Trying to get six hours out of the house is quite tough.

"When I finish up and the kids are older, I hope to get into it more."

Former captain Lisa Martin believes Scotland are playing their best rugby in a decade at the Women's World Cup and says records, such as their 26-year wait for a win against this weekend's quarter-final opponents England, are there to be broken.

Martin joins Tom English, Andrew Petrie and BBC Sport reporter and commentator Sara Orchard on this week's BBC Scotland Rugby podcast.

They discuss Scotland's performances in the Women's World Cup, succession planning within the Scottish women's game, plus the departure of head coach Bryan Easson.

Listen to the latest episode of the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast.