Scottish Rugby

Image source, SNS

Scotland centre Stafford McDowall has become the latest player to pledge his future to Glasgow Warriors by extending his contract at Scotstoun until the summer of 2028.

The 26-year-old has made 81 appearances – scoring 16 tries – for the Warriors since his professional debut against the Southern Kings in 2017.

McDowall played a key role in Glasgow's 2023-24 United Rugby Championship title victory and won the Players' Player of the Season award.

He made his Scotland debut prior to the 2023 Rugby World Cup against Italy at Scottish Gas Murrayfield and was co-captain in July's win over Canada and captain against Portugal earlier this month.

"I'm really pleased to renew my contract," he told the club's website.

"It's the club I grew up supporting and a club that I take great pride in representing on and off the field.

"I'm loving my rugby here. The brand of rugby we play is a really exciting one, and its one that I hope the fans enjoy watching as much as we enjoy playing!"

Head coach Franco Smith added: "Stafford has developed into a key leader in our playing group, and is someone who regularly drives our standards and our values on and off the field.

"His skillset enables him to contribute effectively both in attack and defence, whilst also bringing out the best in the players around him.

"He has fully bought into the journey that we are on as a club, and is fully committed to helping this group achieve its potential."

Andy Burke and Tom English ponder whether Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu could lead the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia next year.

There's plenty more Scotland chat too, with a look back at the Autumn Nations Series and a peak ahead at what the Six Nations might bring.

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

Sandy Smith
Fan writer

The accepted wisdom was that three wins from four Autumn Nations Series matches would equal success for Scotland and help us all reinforce our habitual and mostly misplaced hope for the forthcoming Six Nations.

Job done then, but what impact did the 23 Edinburgh players wearing the thistle have?

In terms of pure quantifiable effect it's hard to see past Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe. They both played three full games and contributed seven tries between them. Van der Merwe topped the tables for defenders beaten in all the games he played.

Jamie Ritchie was being written off as an international player, but shone against Australia. He was Scotland's top tackler and led the jackling efforts too. It was a player of the match performance for me and he showed he is a long way from being done at the highest level.

Grant Gilchrist also continues to display a phenomenal work rate, especially defensively. He played three games and only got a rest in the last eight minutes against Australia.

Another notable was Tom Dodd scoring for Scotland A against Chile. Firstly because I didn’t even realise he was Scotland-qualified and secondly because his effort to be available for the offload by Ben Afshar after the scrum half's break from within his own half was exceptional.

Freddie Douglas has a big future and did himself no harm with a cameo against Portugal when he impressed without even getting his hands on the ball. He then put in a well deserved man of the match display against Chile.

Success on the international front can be a two-edged sword. Edinburgh have brought back Damien Hoyland on a short-term deal, presumably to cover for the rest periods our star wingers will now get.

In a separate but linked issue, Sean Everitt will also have to weigh up how he integrates Freddie Douglas into the matchday 23 because if he doesn't and we continue to flounder, the criticism of him may reach terminal velocity.

Sandy Smith can be found at The Burgh Watch., external

Grant Young
Fan writer

International rugby is done for a few months now, and it's back to the club game as Glasgow host Scarlets in the URC this Friday. Warriors finished the first portion of the season with a memorable win in South Africa and will want to build on that at Scotstoun.

Glasgow fans were met with mixed news during the international window. The good news was Sione Tuipulotu signing a new deal with the club, but the flip side was learning that Tom Jordan will be joining Bristol Bears after his breakthrough season with Glasgow.

The Kiwi-born back has burst onto the world stage with some standout performances for Scotland, playing out of position at full-back and will be sorely missed.

What else happened? Alex Samuel also made his full international debut alongside Jordan. Zander Fagerson and Rory Darge delivered big performances and Tuipulotu continues to shine every time he takes the field. Scotland seem to be at their best when Sione is running at a defence and able to create space for Finn Russell to work his magic.

Jack Dempsey sustained a shoulder injury and it also looks likely that Max Williamson and Gregor Brown - who have both had brilliant starts to the URC season - will miss some game time.

Glasgow's squad depth is a key factor behind their recent success but how the pack goes with those three missing will definitely be one to watch. Time will tell what Franco Smith will do.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Blair Kinghorn says it’s time for Scotland to finally back up an encouraging autumn with a proper Six Nations title challenge.

The Scots won three of their four matches – the sole defeat coming against world champions South Africa – and rounded off their Autumn Nations Series with an impressive victory over Australia.

"I think we know we need to be able to back it up," Kinghorn said.

"We've said it many times before, we've been playing well, we've had some good wins here, but we've never really backed it up properly. It's now time to put us on the block and hold us to our word.

"We've had a lot of good conversations in camp about taking ownership, about the team, it's not all down to the coach, it's about you guys on the field. So it's time to put our neck out there and do what we know we can do.

"It's always good coming into Six Nations having won your last Test match. It'll be a good year, hopefully.”

Scotland end the year on a high after defeating the Wallabies 27-13 in their final Autumn Nations Series match.

With recent results in mind and as the year draws to a close, what would you like to ask our rugby writers Tom English and Andy Burke?

Send them in via this link, external, and they will be answered on this page later in the week.

Image source, SNS

Former Scotland back Hugo Southwell says Gregor Townsend's decision to make Sione Tuipulotu captain for the Autumn Nations Series was a "masterstroke" due to the centre's ability to lead from the front.

Tuipulotu continued his top-class form throughout the autumn, helping the Scots to three wins from their four Tests and relishing the extra responsibility of captaincy.

Southwell compared the Glasgow Warriors star to a former teammate of his in Jason White as a player "everyone would follow".

"It's been a master-stroke," Southwell told BBC Radio Scotland. "He relishes that opportunity. Some people, when they're captain, the added pressure doesn't bode well for them. But for him, it just lifts his game.

"He's a guy who makes people follow him. I had a guy, Jason White, when we were playing. He said so many words but actually it was just leading from the front and he was playing to the top of his ability every single week, and everyone would follow him.

"That's exactly what Sione's doing at the moment and long may it continue."

We asked for your thoughts on Scotland's 27-13 win against Australia in the Autumn Nations Series at Murrayfield.

Here's what you had to say:

Rob: A solid win while not at our best. Finn Russell's kicking was uncharacteristically bad and lineouts were dire but the tries we scored were well worked, and not all directly from set-pieces which is somewhat of an issue for us at times. I think a somewhat lacklustre Aussie defence flattered us slightly but a good win regardless.

Graeme: Not often can you say after a Scottish win, that there is still so much that could have been better. Against any other tier one nation and those missed opportunities would have been costly. Tidy up the accuracies and the line, then come the Six Nations it could see Scotland in the hunt on the last weekend.

David: What does Zander Fagerson have to do to win man of the match? He has been magnificent this series. Without his scrummaging, ball carrying and tackling, Scotland are seriously diminished.

Gary: Still the same problems which will cost us against the top teams, lineout isn't great, knock-ons and poor passing must cost us two tries per game.

Simon: Really happy with the win - let's say that first, but should we be concerned by the team's ability to be clinical? We seem to need to create two chances to score one. I would almost, but not quite, be happier if we created four chances and scored four tries, rather than eight chances and score four. The top four teams will only give you one or two chances.

Jamie: An ugly win, with quite a few errors. We have to get better at not torpedoing our own chances, too many lineout errors close to the opposition line, and other chances gone astray, but to still pull off a dogged win against an Australia team riding the crest of a couple of wins is a great result.

David: This is the team that Scotland have been promising for so long, however with only two real professional rugby teams in Scotland I fear for the future after this team begins to wane. That said great performance this autumn, roll on the six nations, well done Scotland.

Henry: First half, too many mistakes couldn't cover the cracks. Second half, real transformation controlled by the best forwards display in years, able to produce good ball for those Lions backs! We can still improve, but we're certainly on the right road and starting to justify our world ranking.

Graham: One of the best 80-minute performances for a long time. They now know they can do it and with just a bit more devil in the ball carrying, a Six Nations title shot will be more than just a long one

Jock: Zander Fagerson should have been man of the match. He is developing into a monster of a prop with a significance similar to Ian Milne. When you have a prop like that and forwards who are now becoming abrasive then good things will happen!

Stuart: This was the display that puts Scotland's head above the parapet to say we are here. Omens look good for the Six Nations, but as Gregor Townsend states, more work needs to be done to tidy some scrappy work, but all in all, what a great display from the team.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Ritchie returns to show his class

There were a few eyebrows raised when Jamie Ritchie was selected to start in the Scotland back-row against Australia. Many had expected Josh Bayliss to come in at number eight, but Gregor Townsend instead shifted Matt Fagerson to eight and brought Ritchie in at six. It was the right call – Ritchie was outstanding.

It's been a strange old year or so for Ritchie. He led Scotland at last year's Rugby World Cup but by the time this year's Six Nations rolled around he had lost the captaincy and found himself in and out of the team as the Glasgow Fagerson-Darge-Dempsey trio became the established back-row unit.

Throw into the mix being part of a hopelessly under-performing Edinburgh side and it all adds up to a very challenging chapter in Ritchie’s career, but against the Wallabies he reminded us all what a top-class operator he is.

Townsend brought him into the side for his abilities in the air and on the floor, and in both facets he made an impact. His lineout work was good and we saw some of the open-field carrying that had disappeared from his game for a while.

Let's hope this signals a return to top form because at his best, there are few better back-rows than Jamie Ritchie.

Gilchrist rolls back the years

Speaking of Edinburgh players shaking off mediocre club form to shine for the national team, Grant Gilchrist produced his best performance in a Scotland jersey for quite some time.

Gilchrist is as honest is the day is long and will hit rucks, make tackles and the hard yards until he has nothing left to give, but against Australia he was also coming up with big plays in big moments.

He somehow found his way to the ball and stripped an Australian maul that was heading towards the Scotland line, he stole at least one Wallaby line-out and he was carrying more prominently in the loose.

Gilchrist's nous in running the line-out has become even more important following the departure from the Test scene of Richie Gray, but here he showed he has more to offer than simply being a set-piece organiser.

Wallabies hype crumbles in Murrayfield cauldron

Australia were the talk of the rugby world coming into this match. They were the team that had captured the imagination with thrilling wins over England and Wales and were halfway towards emulating Mark Ella and the Grand Slam Tour heroes of 1984.

In fairness to the Wallabies, none of the hype was coming from within the camp, but rather from fans and the media. That hype now looks a little premature after they were well beaten by a superior Scotland side.

It feels strange to write that about Scotland, but as Sione Tuipulotu said in his post-match press conference, this team believed they were better than Australia and their task was simply to go out and prove it. They did.

The Aussies have not become a bad team overnight – just as they did not become superstars after beating England and a poor Wales – and the talent in their ranks suggests they can be a force again in the coming months and years.

What Murrayfield showed was they still have a way to go to count themselves alongside the world’s leading nations, Scotland included.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Matt Fagerson says Scotland have proved they have the "hard edge" to go with their attacking flair after they rounded off their Autumn Nations Series with victory over Australia.

The Scots won three of their four autumn matches, with their only loss coming at the hands of world champions South Africa.

Even in that defeat, the Scots went toe-to-toe in the physical stakes with the mighty Springboks, while their strong defence largely nullified an Australian attack that had scored 13 tries across two victories over England and Wales.

"I think Scotland in the past maybe have been classed as being able to do all the flairy things, scoring from anywhere, but didn't have that hard edge when it came to our defence," Fagerson said.

"I think we've shown that in the last year or so, that we're a very tough team to break down, and the physicality against South Africa, and then against Australia, I think that's a great benchmark.

"We know that's where we are, and that's something we've got to try and replicate every week.

"We're very happy with the win leading into the Six Nations. We know we've still got things to work on, but it's a great confidence boost leading into the first game."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Try-scorer Josh Bayliss believes Scotland’s victory over Australia proves Gregor Townsend’s side are “building towards something”.

Bayliss came off the bench and produced a brilliant finish to grab the third of Scotland’s four tries as the hosts rounded off their Autumn Nations Series with a 27-13 victory over the Wallabies.

“It's always great to come into this environment, and I've had a great last four weeks, absolutely loved it,” said the Bath back-row.

“The boys are brilliant. I think we're really building towards something, and that's exactly how we wanted to finish it off out there, with a win against Australia and I thought we really built that win.

“I made my debut against Australia in the autumn three years ago and to play them again and get another win, that's the most important thing for me, to win for Scotland, for this country, is incredible.

“We don't want to take any steps back, we've made this progress. What's really important for us is to keep looking forward and this is a benchmark now, we just keep building on this.”

We hear reaction from Peter Wright, Colin Gregor & Tom English as Scotland beat the Wallabies at Murrayfield in the Autumn Nations.

Listen to the full episode.

Scotland scored three second-half tries to earn a statement Autumn Nations Series victory against Australia at a heaving Murrayfield.

What did you make of the performance? Where did Scotland impress and how did they win against the Wallabies?

Let us know your thoughts here., external

Image source, SNS

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend told BBC Scotland: "There was more in us. We weren't as accurate in the first half.

"It shows we can get a win when we're not playing as well. There were moments in the game that I loved. We saw what it meant to our supporters to get a win against a quality team.

"We're better than some of the aspects today but I'm proud that the players found a way to win.

"We were getting opportunities, but it was passes not going to hands. We needed to be more accurate in the second half.

"There was work rate in the second half too. It looked like the Aussies were tiring in defence and our work rate to create an extra man was excellent. There was unselfish play - Duhan's pass, other plays clearing contact.

"I'm inwardly happy, but if there was a game next week it would be a tough review and there would be a lot of things to improve."

On Josh Bayliss' try, he added: "That was a good try and one of the training park. There was a few of them in the first half which looked like they could have led to tries. It was just millimetres.

"Josh - it was deja vu of when he scored against Italy a year ago. He was excellent, the back row were very competitive, I thought Jamie [Ritchie] played very well.

"It was a tough, physical game. Australia play with a lot of hard carries, low body position. They caught us offside a few times but you have to work hard in defence and we did that.

"We had the energy and the players to make a difference in that second half."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu says Sunday’s Autumn Nations Series match against Australia is “massively special”, but does not feel he has anything to prove.

Born and raised in Australia, Tuipulotu represented the Wallabies at under-20 level but left his homeland in 2018 for Japan after becoming frustrated at a lack of opportunities with Melbourne Rebels.

Since arriving in Scotland in 2021, Tuipulotu has become a star for Glasgow Warriors and the national team, and he says he has no regrets about the way his rugby journey has panned out.

“If you asked me that question three years ago or four years ago when I first left Australia, I had so much, I suppose, animosity or professional anger inside me because I felt my talent really wasn't looked after in Australia,” Tuipulotu said.

“But to be honest, now I feel like I am where I'm supposed to be, here in Scotland. And I feel like all those things that happened early in my career were meant to happen because now I'm sitting here in the position that I am.

“It's funny, you always want to play a lot harder against your mates, and I have a lot of mates in that Wallabies team, but I'm sure it's the same for them.

“I'm trying to make it not bigger than it is really. It's just another test match for Scotland, so that's big in its own right.”