Scottish Rugby

We asked for your views on Scotland's narrow win over Maori All Blacks in the first game of their summer tour of New Zealand.

Here's what some of you had to say:

George: A historic win that shouldn't be overlooked given the team we put out and played against. Defence at the end was gutsy, particularly given the harsh sin-binning. Should have been more ruthless in attack during the last 10 minutes and when they were down to 13. Some great attacking moves and we kicked from hand effectively, well worth the 04:30am wake up.

David: Scotland just made it over the line against the New Zealand Maori side but they gave up two easy tries by aimless kicking. Kicking just to get rid of the ball just gives the initiative away. When Scotland ran at the New Zealanders they created scoring opportunities, when they kicked the ball away aimlessly they were immediately under the cosh. When will they stop doing it?

Alan: Great performance by a Scotland side short on experience in some positions. Despite losing the early try, once they regained the lead, they never relinquished it for the next 74 minutes! The defence was magnificent at times, especially in that last punishing few minutes! No doubt about it, this is a result to be proud of.

Scott: This win should not be underestimated. A first win against a NZ representative side in senior 15s as well as on NZ soil; not only that, but with very much a development side. To a man each player must be proud of themselves. Gregor Townsend must take huge credit for this, developing these players and setting a marker now for hopefully getting the one last monkey off our backs and defeating the All Blacks themselves. Townsend out? No thanks.

Jim: For what was a largely second string, it was an outstanding performance from a young team, they stood up to some big bangs. The handling and defensive effort was brilliant and a pleasure to watch, let's hope the regulars keep the momentum going for the next two games. The starting front row were immense, on paper it looked a bit light, they not only held their own, they more than matched them.

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Scotland showed 'typical Scottish values' as they worked until the last whistle to record a historic victory over the Maori All Blacks, says scrum-half George Horne.

Having led by 17 points, the Scots were only up by three with the Maoris attacking their line in the final play, but they managed to turn the ball over and kick it dead to earn victory.

"It was unbelievable," Horne said. "We came into the game with quite a new team, a young squad, and we've come together really well in the last few weeks.

"To come together and put on a performance like that... it wasn't that pretty but we dug in and we showed typical Scottish values. To get the win at the end, to keep them out in the corner, was huge."

Horne was instrumental in the Scotland victory, starting and scoring two tries in his own typical fashion.

"Getting the chance to represent Scotland is everything for me," he added. "To cap that off with a win first and foremost, and to get over for a try is always nice. Just delighted.

"It just shows the character of the team. We defended for four or five minutes at the end there, gave away a few penalties, got a yellow card. That didn't phase us.

"We stuck to our system and it was massive moment with that big counter-ruck at the end, it just shows what we mean to each other and how much it means to play for Scotland."

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Huw Jones was the pick of the Scotland players in the British & Irish Lions win over New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney.

The outside centre touched down two tries in the 21-10 victory, but the overall performance of the side was somewhat laboured.

Both of Jones' scores came in the first half, the opener set up by Glasgow Warriors team-mate Sione Tuipulotu, giving the Lions a 14-0 lead.

Jones now has three tries on tour and his partnership with Tuipulotu was one of the few positives for head coach Andy Farrell.

Blair Kinghorn made his first appearance after his late arrival from Top14 champions Toulouse and was largely peripheral on the left wing before a switch to full-back early in the second-half allowed him to get more involved.

Pierre Schoeman impressed in the scrummage at loose-head prop and was solid in defence, while lock Scott Cummings started strongly but faded after being promoted from the bench following the late withdrawal of Henry Pollock.

Cummings, Kinghorn, Jones and Tuipulotu all played the full 80 minutes.

Duhan Van der Merwe, added to the squad in place of the injured Pollock, took over from Kinghorn on the wing and scrum-half Ben White got his first taste of the action for the final 10 minutes after being called up as injury cover earlier this week.

For those of you that got up early, or those of you that have now caught up, we want to know your thoughts on Scotland's first ever victory over the Maori All Blacks.

Have your say here.

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Gregor Townsend thinks his side's win over the Maori All Blacks put "a marker down" for the rest of the summer tour, as they prepare to take on Fiji and Samoa.

The Scots were pushed all the way in the uncapped international, dragging victory out of the fire with a huge defensive set to deny their hosts a late score.

"It's a marker put down from a group of players," Townsend said. "I was just so proud of the effort tonight, especially at the end of the game.

"That effort at the end - 28 or 29 phases in defence, a man down, defending your goal line... the players showed what playing for Scotland means for them."

Although they didn't win caps, Townsend handed debuts to three players - tighthead prop Fin Richardson, number eight Alex Masibaka, and Kiwi-born stand-off Fergus Burke.

"[Alex] has lit up our training sessions, he's got a real point of difference. I loved how confident he was today, taking quick taps, being physical in defence.

"[Fergus] was excellent when he came on, from a defensive point of view. Him and Jamie Dobie were two people really involved in that counter ruck that got us the ball back.

"Even though [Fin] is not getting a cap, that was a Test match today, up against a quality side. The front row did a really good job, grew in confidence as the job went on."

Up next for the Scots is Fiji in Suva, before a return to New Zealand where they play Samoa at Eden Park in Auckland.

"We know next week is a tougher challenge, we're playing a team ranked in the top 10 in the world, who've got unbelievable individuals throughout their side, playing at home in a lot warmer conditions than we had today," the head coach added.

"But it's a great way to start the tour and if we can see that effort, that physicality from the players next week, that alignment in how we want to play on this tour, then it should set us up."

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Stand-in captain Stafford McDowall believes Scotland "might have lost that game" in the past, as his side held on for a famous victory over a relentless Maori All Blacks side.

The Scots had a 17-point lead at one stage in the second-half but saw that gap close to just three points by the full-time whistle.

"Two teams chucking it all at each other for 80 minutes," was how McDowall described it. "You could see at the end, just from all the bodies.

"I'm just massively proud of the shift from the boys to dig in at the end against a real good team."

The Maoris had the visitors camped on their own line with the clock dead, but a huge defensive effort from Scotland turned the ball over and won the game.

"We talked at half time that we'd put ourselves in a good position to lead but we knew the Maoris would come back and chuck everything at us," McDowall added.

"They did that and we probably lost control for 20 minutes, and in the past we might have lost that game but proud of the boys for digging in and getting the job done."

The Glasgow Warriors centre, 27, skippered in the absence of tour captain Rory Darge who was rested before games against Fiji and Samoa.

"We looked at this first game as an opportunity to launch this tour off to a good start. We're really proud of the effort of the boys, but also it's just a privilege to play here against this boys in front of a packed crowd."

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Scotland scrum-half Ali Price has signed for French side Montpellier after leaving Edinburgh.

Price, 32, made his international debut in 2016 and has represented Scotland on 71 occasions.

He joined Edinburgh from Glasgow Warriors in 2023, but the capital club confirmed in April he would depart for an opportunity "overseas".

Price now moves to the Top 14, signing a deal until 2027.

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Stafford McDowall says "it'll be weird" facing former Glasgow team-mate Cole Forbes when Scotland take on the Maori All Blacks this weekend.

Forbes spent two-and-a-half years at Warriors and received a call-up for Scotland's summer tour squad in 2021, only for the games to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"He could easily be on this tour for us," said Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend.

But, Forbes, who is back playing in New Zealand for the Auckland Blues, will instead line-up on the wing for the Maori All Blacks against the Scots in Whangerei on Saturday.

"It'll be weird facing up opposite him," said McDowall, who will captain the Scotland side.

"I'm good mates with him, so it'll be a really cool experience.

"The haka and everything that comes with that as well, getting to be on the other side from Cole will be a funny, but an unbelievable experience.

"I'm sure we'll put the friendships aside for 80 minutes and then we'll hopefully have a beer together afterwards."

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Gregor Townsend says no decision will be made over his future as Scotland head coach during the summer tour.

Scottish Rugby CEO Alex Williamson suggested last month he expected to have "really positive" conversations with Townsend when he accompanied the squad on the tour in New Zealand and Fiji.

But Townsend, whose current deal expires next year, says his sole focus is on preparing the side to face the Maori All Blacks in Whangarei on Saturday, rather than his own contractual situation.

"It's not something that tends to get discussed when we're in campaigns," he said.

"We don't have the time, really, and the focus is on making sure we prepare the team as well as we can this week and over the next two weeks.

"It's not something I've thought that much about. A lot goes into preparation for a tour and then on tour.

"There'll be plenty of time to discuss whether Scottish Rugby feel that they want me to continue and also what I want to do at the end of my contract. But it won't be something that will be decided over the next few weeks."

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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Tries from Duhan van der Merwe and Huw Jones - in addition to four conversions from Finn Russell - contributed to a "statement win" for the British and Irish Lions against Queensland Reds, says former tourist Scott Hastings.

Andy Farrell's side "tidied up" a sticky start to romp to a second tour victory with "confidence", added ex-Scotland centre Hastings.

"We're only two games into the Lions tour but without doubt, a lot of focus has been on Russell and his half-back partner Jamison Gibson-Park," 1989 and 1983 Lions tourist Hastings told BBC Radio Scotland.

"They played really well together. Russell is a running fly-half at number 10, and he got that running line good, while his kicking was excellent.

"Van der Merwe is undoubtedly very strong, and while he made a couple of mistakes in the first half, he's a strong runner and finished well with a good try.

"I felt Jones maybe wasn't at his flashiest best, but he was very solid in his performance. He scored, too, so tick marks in the positive box for him.

"It was a game that was littered with mistakes in the first half, but the Lions tidied up. I think that's a statement win on their tour. I think there's a real confidence within the Lions.

"As the tour moves on, a lot of the players will have put down markers for that Test spot for Saturday, 19 July."

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Glasgow Warriors "feels like the best possible" for Scottish-qualified stand-off Dan Lancaster, who has signed a two-year deal at Scotstoun.

Son of former England head coach Stuart, the 24-year-old spent last season with French side Racing 92, making 25 appearances - including against Franco Smith's side in Glasgow.

Though born in Leeds, Lancaster, who is comfortable at fly-half and both centres, represented Scotland at U18 level alongside Jamie Dobie and Rory Darge.

Head coach Smith said his versatility will be "a real asset" in the squad.

Lancaster said he had "heard many great things" about the club and told his agents it was "where he wanted to go".

"It all happened pretty quickly, to be honest," Lancaster told club media.

"I found out I wasn't being kept on by Racing, and one evening shortly after that I got a call from Franco about potentially coming to Glasgow. After that call, I phoned my agent and told them that Scotstoun was where I wanted to go.

"I played against Glasgow for Racing last year, so I saw first-hand the intensity that the club brings with and without the ball – they're a proper team.

"I've heard so may great things about the club and about Franco and the coaching team, and Lucio [Sordoni] told me how special a place it is, so it feels like the best possible place for me to develop as a rugby player."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Marshall Sykes aims to use Scotland's summer tour to put himself "in the spotlight" as he chases more Test caps.

The Edinburgh lock, 25, made his Scotland debut against Tonga in 2021 but had to wait three-and-a-half years for his second cap, coming on as a replacement against France in this year's Six Nations.

As Scotland gear up for their tour opener against the Maori All Blacks in Whangerei on Saturday, Sykes is keen to make every moment count that he gets on the field.

"It's just about getting yourself in the spotlight," said Sykes

"Now I've got myself over here, it's about what I do with it. So I suppose the onus kind of comes to me.

"The coaches, they're pretty clear with what they want. The tour is a real opportunity, especially while, for instance, in my position, you've got Scott Cummings away [with the Lions].

"It's a chance to put your stamp on the jersey and see what you can do there. I'll be just giving my all each week to try and get myself in this squad long term."

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Scotland's Chloe Rollie will play for Rugby Club Toulon Provence Mediterranee in France next season.

The full-back, 30, leaves Trailfinders, having joined a year ago.

Rollie said on Instagram she had "thoroughly enjoyed" her time in Ealing.

"I am gutted to be leaving so quickly as I think this team is going to go places," she added.

"An opportunity that I didn't think would come my way has, so for me personally, I think it's the right choice and time to take it."

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Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors have discovered their opponents for the pool stage of the 2025-26 Investec Champions Cup.

Glasgow have been handed a tough draw as they will face with three-time winners Saracens and record six-time champions Toulouse in Pool 1, as well as Sale Sharks and Clermont Auvergne.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh also have a challenging group of opponents in Pool 2, with Premiership champions Bath, who won last year's Challenge Cup, joining Gloucester, Castres and three-time winners Toulon.

Each team will play four different opponents in the pool stage, but not teams from their own league, with fixtures still to be announced.

Champions Cup draw in full

Pool 1: Toulouse, Clermont, Sharks, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Sale Sharks

Pool 2: Bath, Toulon, Munster, Castres, Edinburgh, Gloucester

Pool 3: Leinster, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, La Rochelle, Bayonne, Stormers

Pool 4: Bordeaux-Begles, Scarlets, Bristol, Pau, Northampton, Bulls

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Ben Muncaster says Scotland must be prepared to face an "extremely passionate" Maori All Blacks side in Whangerei on Saturday.

It is the first meeting between the sides since 2000. On that occasion, the hosts edged a tight battle 18-15 in New Plymouth.

Muncaster is expecting a similarly tough encounter this weekend.

"One of the main things is they're going to be extremely passionate and play with a lot of freedom, especially being at home," said the Edinburgh back-row.

"They're going to be seriously up for it, so we're going to have to relish the occasion, the experience, and just play our game.

"It's purely a privilege to be able to go to the other side of the world and play some rugby. I'm just really excited."

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Callum Hunter-Hill's return to Edinburgh will bring "further physicality to the pack", says head coach Sean Everitt.

The 28-year-old lock has penned a two-year deal after departing last season's Champions Cup finalists Northampton Saints.

On his return, Hunter-Hill, who spent two seasons at Edinburgh between 2017 and 2019, said: "I'm absolutely buzzing and very grateful to be back at Edinburgh. It's a club that means a huge amount to me.

"Edinburgh's always been home and I'm proud to be part of it again. There's a brilliant group there. Having watched from afar, especially last season, the team is so well poised to make an even bigger step forward next year.

Edinburgh head coach Everitt added: "We're thrilled to welcome Callum back. He's a quality player with significant experience at the top level, featuring in some really important games for both Saracens and Northampton Saints."

"He brings real quality to our set-piece with his ability to call the lineout, and his size and toughness will bring further physicality to the pack."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Ben White was unfortunate to miss out on the original British and Irish Lions squad and is fully deserving of his late call-up, says Scotland coach Fergus Pringle.

After an injury against Western Force on Saturday ended Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams' tour, Andy Farrell drafted White in from Scotland's summer tour in New Zealand to link up with the Lions squad.

"Ben's one of the players who was probably close to getting picked initially and just missed out," said Pringle, who is coaching the forwards to cover the absence of Lions assistant John Dalziel.

"He was really consistent over the Six Nations and over the season, so everyone knew he deserved an opportunity.

"It happened pretty quickly. Andy Farrell phoned Gregor [Townsend] and then the next thing this morning, Gregor's telling the team and the boys are buzzing and cheering and then Ben's off and we're off to the pitch to go and get training.

"So I think Ben was probably just as shocked and surprised as anyone. He was almost shaking when he found out and it was just great to see the reaction of the boys, and also his reaction was good."

Pringle says other players who narrowly missed out on Lions selection will know they could also have an opportunity to join the tour, as White has, if they perform in Scotland's three matches against the Maori All Blacks, Fiji and Samoa.

"The big thing that stood out to me coming in is how much the staff and everyone wants the players to get that opportunity and how excited they are for the guys to get that opportunity," Pringle said.

"So I think there are definitely players on this tour who were close, like Ben, to getting in.

"We know the Lions tour is a lot, or any tour is a lot, there's always going to be injuries, as we've seen already.

"So it could easily happen again. That's just the game, isn't it?"

Meanwhile, Sale Sharks' Gus Warr will have the chance to add to his two Scotland caps after being called up as a replacement for White.