Scottish Rugby

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.

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Scotland's Blair Kinghorn sealed his second Top 14 title with Toulouse before he sets off to join the British and Irish Lions squad touring Australia.

The 28-year-old started on the left wing at the Stade de France and played all 100 minutes in a thrilling final against Bordeaux Begles.

Thomas Ramos kicked two extra-time penalties for a 39-33 success to seal a third successive crown for Toulouse - and a record-extending 24th overall.

Star full-back Ramos slotted 24 points in an absorbing game in the sweltering Paris heat.

Toulouse's tries came from Jack Willis (2) and Anthony Jelonch, with Damian Penaud, Matthieu Jalibert and Guido Petti touching down for Bordeaux.

Scotland lock Jonny Gray featured as a very late replacement for the runners-up in an epic encounter.

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Sione Tuipulotu insists the British and Irish Lions must continue to shrug off any prodding during their tour of Australia after their overseas-born player were called out by the Tannoy announcer at Optus Stadium.

Tuipulotu, one of eight players in Andy Farrell's squad who were born, raised and educated in the southern hemisphere, was among those caught in the crosshairs before Saturday's 54-7 rout of Western Force.

"Another Aussie at number 12, Sione Tuipulotu," was how the Scotland centre was introduced when the team was read out for the Lions' opening match on Australian soil.

Mack Hansen, James Lowe and Pierre Schoeman were also referenced by the nation of their birth rather than their adopted country, for whom they have qualified either through residency or family heritage.

It continued a theme from the hosts that began when Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt described Tuipulotu and New Zealand-born Ireland international Bundee Aki as a "southern-hemisphere centre partnership" in the build-up to the defeat by Argentina in Dublin.

Tuipulotu emphasised the words "good humour" when brushing aside the dig that he expected on his return to his homeland.

"I knew there would be some 'good humour' coming back home to Australia. These are all things we've got to take in our stride," he said.

"To not announce the elephant in the room, I am from Australia. I was born here. I don't know how funny that gag is to everyone!

"I'm loving my rugby playing for the Lions and I'm really passionate about it. Andy's brought the group together so well."

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Rhona Lloyd has moved back to the PWR to join Sale Sharks, while fellow back-three player Lucia Scott has moved to Loughborough Lightning.

Lloyd, 28, has spent the last few seasons in France with Stade Bordelais but now returns to the UK, having previously spending time with Loughborough Lightning.

The winger has scored 25 tries for Scotland in 57 caps and will expect to add to that number at the upcoming World Cup.

Another potential member of that squad is 21-year-old full-back Lucia Scott, who has moved to Lightning from Gloucester-Hartpury.

The 21-year-old has five caps for Scotland and scored her first try in 2024 against Fiji.

In recent years, she has made more appearances for Edinburgh in the Celtic Challenge than Gloucester-Hartpury, occasionally appearing on the wing.

She joins Scotland teammates Anne Young, Elis Martin, Becky Boyd, Leia Brebner-Holden, and Helen Nelson at the club.

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Five Scotland stars were involved in the British & Irish Lions tour-opening victory over the Western Force in Perth, with Huw Jones making his debut.

Pierre Schoeman, Scott Cummings, Finn Russell and Sione Tuipulotu were all in from the start while Jones entered in the 55th minute.

Russell was making his first start of the tour, having missed last weekend's loss to Argentina after guiding Bath to the Premiership title in England.

He started in fine fashion, as his cross-kick helped set up captain Dan Sheehan's opening try, before almost scoring a fine solo effort with a disguised tap-and-go in the 35th minute, popping up for Elliot Daly to score when he himself was held short.

Tuipulotu was shifted from outside to inside centre and looked slightly more comfortable in partnership with Garry Ringrose. He's the only player to play every minute of the tour so far.

Eagle-eyed fans also noticed that Welsh scrum-half Tomos Williams limped from the field after his second try, seemingly nursing a hamstring injury.

Lions' head coach Andy Farrell has said it's "too early to know" what the impact will be, but Scotland's Ben White will surely be high in Farrell's thinking if a new number nine is needed.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Alex Masibaka says facing Fiji in a Scotland jersey this summer would represent "a full circle moment" as he aims to make his debut on the international stage.

The 23-year-old back-rower qualifies for the Scots through his Paisley-born mother, but could just as easily be in the white Fijian jersey given his father's heritage.

"I'm very excited," said Masibaka, ahead of Scotland's trip to Suva in the middle of two matches in New Zealand.

"My mother's, she's Scottish and my dad's Fijian, so it'll be a full circle moment for me and my family.

"We're trying to get my parents over and I've got family in Fiji as well who will try to come down for that Fiji game and yeah, it's going to be huge."

Masibaka plays for French side Montpellier but spent last season on loan at Pro D2 side Soyaux-Angouleme and was a shock call-up to the Scotland squad during the Six Nations.

Although he did not manage any game time, the number eight admitted that even being called into the wider squad by Gregor Townsend came as something of a surprise.

"I was a bit shocked at first, to be honest," he said. "I was just sitting on the couch talking to my mum on the phone while she was at work and just got the call and instantly just froze.

"I was just like, 'wow, this is real'. But I had to quickly shape up and come prepared and it's everything I dreamed of.

"I felt like a new kid. Honestly, I was a bit nervous. I know there's some superstars in here and the first person I met was Finn Russell.

"I was very nervous talking to him, but he was just very humble and very good to talk to.

"I'm just trying to learn off the other boys and try to be a sponge and take as much as I can from the team and try to bring it into the next training session. That's my focus at the moment."

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Scotland flanker Alex Stewart "didn't recognise the person in the mirror" before two life-changing diagnoses earlier this year.

The 21-year-old, who has 11 caps to her name, was diagnosed with both Type 1 Diabetes and Coeliac Disease during this year's Women's Six Nations after severe "exhaustion and low moods which didn't add up".

"It was a tough beginning to the year," Stewart revealed in a candid statement. "I was exhausted all the time, struggling with low moods and some other symptoms that just didn't add up.

"I didn't recognise the person I saw in the mirror anymore.

"After experiencing this for a couple of months and being monitored by the medical team at Scottish Rugby and I was sent for a blood test."

Stewart's results provided a a Coeliac Disease diagnosis, which she says she felt "a relief" at receiving.

She was named on the bench for the Italy match, then "woke up to a voicemail from my GP asking me to come in urgently".

"That's when I found out I could also have Type 1 Diabetes," she added.

"It felt like a real blow. Just as I was starting to feel like I was getting a handle on things."

With a continuous glucose monitor fitted the next day, Stewart started to get used to her new life, with the support of the medical team.

A hypoglycaemic episode during Ireland week confirmed what she didn't want to hear - the tournament was over for her.

And while she may not be quite the same person as before, Stewart is learning to see strength in the change.

"Things have changed a lot," she added. "My days now involve insulin, a gluten-free diet, and constantly checking in with how I'm feeling.

"She [the old me] didn't have to carb count before every meal and make sure her glucose levels were good before she trained or before a walk after dinner. She didn't have to make all these additional decisions and adjustments to everyday life.

"But I'm feeling more energetic and healthy than I have in a long time. I'm getting to know a new version of myself."

This new version still has the same ambitions. For now, the main goal is making the World Cup squad.

"I'm just at the start of my journey with diabetes; I've got a lot more to learn and conquer," she added.

"But I've got the rest of my life to worry about that, my main focus is being part of Scotland Women's 2025 World Cup squad."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rory Darge can understand why Glasgow "really good" head coach Franco Smith is being linked with other jobs, but says the Warriors players are desperate for the South African to remain at Scotstoun.

Smith is entering the final year of his contract and has been linked with a number of other jobs, most notably the vacant Wales head coach position.

Following Glasgow's defeat to Leinster in the United Rugby Championship semi-final earlier this month, Smith refused to confirm if he will still be in charge next season, saying he would take time "to reflect a little bit" over the summer.

"He's a really good coach and showed that with getting the results last year," Darge said.

"He laid out to us after this year all the positives. It's obviously knockout rugby and when you lose, you have that disappointment. We've maybe brushed over a lot of the big wins that we had over the season.

"You focus on the next job and usually it's a game the following week, so you don't celebrate those big wins. But he wanted to do that. He wanted to highlight the good work that had gone into last season.

"He was speaking to us as players in that Monday review and laying out the good stuff that we'd done last season and the work to do next season.

"But you know, the way professional sport is, you don't know what's going to happen, but as it stands, obviously he's the coach."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Scotland prop Anne Young says she wants to make her mark at this summer's Rugby World Cup after being a frustrated spectator at the tournament in New Zealand three years ago.

Young was included in the wider squad in 2022 but failed to see any match action as the Scots lost all three games to exit at the pool stage.

She says they have "unfinished business".

"It is the pinnacle of the sport, going to a World Cup," Young said.

"I went in the wider squad in the last World Cup and didn't manage to get on the pitch, unfortunately.

"So definitely, this is one that I'm hoping I can contribute to one of the games, for sure. It's an incredible opportunity.

"I think being in England, all the home nations will hopefully get a lot of support. It's going to be an incredible spectacle, so I'm hoping that we make it a good one."

Young, 25, says the squad are motivated to make up for the disappointment of the last World Cup when agonising narrow defeats to Wales and Australia cost Scotland a place in the knockout stages.

"I think we were pretty disappointed in the last World Cup, coming close in two games and not managing to get out of our pool stages," Young added.

"That's something that we definitely want to change this year, definitely a lot of unfinished business and hoping to push on past that for sure."

Chris Jones
Rugby Union Correspondent

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As he prepares to start at fly-half against the Western Force, Finn Russell has told us how it is a career ambition of his to win a Test series with the Lions.

The Scottish star is on his third Lions tour, but bar an excellent cameo in the decider against the Springboks four years ago, has yet to nail down a Test place.

This feels like his time, especially after a trophy-laden season with Bath.

"I've never won a series yet and and I would love to win a series," Russell told BBC Sport.

"It's everyone's dream to be a Test Lion, but there is a lot of work to go on before then.

"It's about firing at the right time, which is the Test matches at the end.

"But we will be pushing every game, and as much as it's the Tests that counts, it's the games building up that we have to push to get it right."

For Russell, this starts in Perth on Saturday. A good performance from the Scot could go a long way to ensuring he is lining up against the Wallabies in three weeks' time.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Harry Paterson says this summer's tour matches against Fiji and Samoa are vital for Scotland to avoid another nightmare Rugby World Cup draw.

The Scots were drawn alongside the world's two top-ranked teams, Ireland and South Africa, in Pool A for the 2023 World Cup, losing to both to exit at the first stage.

Edinburgh full-back Paterson says the ranking points available for this summer are crucial for maintaining and even improving Scotland's current ranking of seventh in the world ahead of the draw for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

The Scots kick off their summer schedule against Maori All Blacks in Whangarei on 5 July - a match which carries no ranking points - before Tests against Fiji in Suva and Samoa in Auckland.

"I think as a squad, we know the importance of rankings this year, especially the games against the Fijians and the Samoans," Paterson said.

"We need to finish this year as high as we can to avoid what happened last World Cup cycle, so we can go with quite a high seeding.

"There's a lot riding on this tour, in terms of those rankings and strength of opposition."

Paterson has endured a frustrating season, missing the Six Nations and much of the domestic campaign through injury, and is relishing the chance to stake a claim for a place in the Scotland team once again.

"I've had a bit of a strange season, managed to get some games at the end of the year after a lot of injuries," he said.

"It's just frustrating, but that means I'll probably have a quite fresh mindset going into this. I haven't had loads of games this year, so I'm ready to fly into it.

"I missed out on all the Six Nations stuff, so I'm really looking forward to trying to get back in the Scotland jersey and performing."

Lauren Jenkins
BBC Sport

Players laying down a marker and encouraging others in their position to raise their game is exactly what Lions had coach Andy Farrell will be hoping for on this tour.

It was certainly true of loose-head prop Ellis Genge with his standout performance against Argentina in Dublin, and Pierre Schoeman off the bench too.

''Genge had an amazing game," said Schoeman.

"He's an amazing bloke - but we're competitive with everything. 'We're competitive in the gym. Even jokes and banter... who can stay in the ice bath the longest? Andrew Porter as well.

"That can really rub off; you're sharpening your swords or your axes together. You have to be the best version of yourself and add value to the Viking ship going to its destination.''

Image source, Lauren Jenkins