The story began in 1962 with the formation of the Edinburgh Amazons, a university team that planted the seeds for women’s rugby in Scotland. By 1987, the competitive spirit had spread across the country, with regular matches played between the universities of St Andrews, Aberdeen, Stirling, Glasgow and Edinburgh. 

In 1990, Edinburgh Women WRFC was established as Scotland’s first domestic women’s club. Just one year later, the club broke new ground by securing permission to compete in the Scottish University League while also testing themselves in the Women’s Rugby Football Union (WRFU) Northern Division, travelling regularly to the north of England for league fixtures. 

International women’s rugby kicks-off 

Years of development at grassroots and university level ultimately led to a landmark moment for the sport. 

On Valentine’s Day 1993, Scotland hosted Ireland at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh for the first official women’s international match involving Scotland. For both teams, the game represented the culmination of years of effort building women’s rugby in their respective countries. 

Leading from the front was Scotland’s first captain, Sandra Colamartino, who scored both tries in the historic match. 

Reflecting on the progress made since that cold February afternoon in 1993, Sandra remains a passionate advocate for the game and the community it builds. 

“It means the world to see today’s girls and women enjoying their rugby at such a high level. Rugby delivers so much mentally and physically, and you build friendships that last a lifetime. On International Women’s Day, while we recognise all that has been achieved, we must keep working hard to ensure the game continues to thrive for all. As women, we must never take our eye off the ball.” 

– Sandra Colamartino, captain of the first Scotland Women’s rugby international team. 

Running out alongside Colamartino that day were players whose names have become synonymous with the grit and passion of Scottish rugby. The squad featured icons of the game like Donna Kennedy, who would go on to become one of the world’s most-capped players, and Lee Cockburn, a powerhouse of the early era. 

The 1993 debut served as the catalyst for a decade of rapid growth. Only one year later, the Scottish Women’s Rugby Union (SWRU) stepped in to host the 1994 World Cup on incredibly short notice. The foundations laid at Raeburn Place eventually paved the way for the legendary 1998 Grand Slam winning side, a team that featured several pioneers from that very first match against Ireland. 

Today, as the squad prepares to run out in front of record-breaking crowds at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, they follow the trail blazed by Colamartino and her teammates. Their legacy is felt in every tackle, every try, and every young girl picking up a rugby ball for the first time this International Women’s Day. 

Growth of the domestic rugby 

As the international team developed, the domestic game across Scotland continued to grow. Clubs began to emerge across the country helping to establish strong local foundations for the senior national team. 

Today, there are 62 Clubs with Female Youth Teams and 71 Clubs with a Female Adult Teams competing across Scotland stretching from Orkney to Biggar, Oban to Cupar. (get the stat from rugby dev/Rosy Ryan) 

At age-grade level there are now national conferences and regional leagues for U16 and U18 players, sponsored by inspiresport, alongside the National Youth Cups competitions.  

Across the senior game, clubs are involved in the Arnold Clark Premiership, Regional Leagues and the Aspiring League. Women’s teams are currently competing in the Sarah Beaney Cup, National Shield, National Plate and National Bowl, with the competitions culminating at Silver Saturday at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in May. 

Professionalising the game and leadership 

The push toward professionalisation accelerated in 2016 when Jade Konkel became Scotland’s first full-time professional female player. 

Fast forward to the 2025/26 season, and Scottish Rugby further deepened its commitment to the women’s game by enhancing its annual contracting model. This evolution has seen an increase in the number of contracted players to 35, with up to 50 athletes benefitting from access to high-performance environments. 

In addition to players, in 2017 Hollie Davidson became the first contracted female referee. 

Just one year later, Dee Bradbury – mother of Scotland international, Magnus Bradbury – made history as the first female President of a Tier 1 union.  

In 2023, Scottish Rugby collaborated with the IRFU and WRU and launched the Celtic Challenge, a cross-border competition designed to bridge the gap between club and international rugby. There are now two teams playing out of Scotland – Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby. Players including Alex Stewart, Molly Poolman, Gemma Bell, Fi McIntosh, Lucia Scott, Rachel Philipps, Hannah Ramsay and Leia Brebner-Holden have come through the Celtic Challenge competition to make their debut for Scotland since its inception. 

Now there is a Central Programme operating in Scotland, where selected players are supported with Strength and Conditioning training, rugby and skills sessions, alongside nutrition, medical and wellbeing.  

There is also now a full pathway for age-grade rugby with Scotland Women U18 participating annually in the Six Nations Festival. Scotland Women U20 programme now enters a new era, evolving from the Six Nations Summer Series; the team now expands to an U21 side and will participate in their own Six Nations tournament which run adjacent to the senior competition. 

Legacy continuing 

Today’s Scotland players stand on the shoulders of the pioneers who first pulled on the jersey more than three decades ago. 

2026 will stand as a groundbreaking year for the women’s game in Scotland, as our senior national team take centre stage at Scottish Gas Murrayfield to face the Red Roses in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations. 

This is a historic move that reflects the incredible growth of the game, with a record-breaking crowd of over 19,000 tickets already sold. As the players run out onto the national pitch, they do so carrying the legacy of every pioneer who came before them, marking a new chapter in the proud history of Scottish women’s rugby.   

Their legacy lives on in every tackle, every try, and every young girl picking up a rugby ball for the first time this International Women’s Day.

The post The Beginnings of Women’s Rugby in Scotland appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

To the action, then, and the hefty chronological breakdown to follow.

Huw Jones had the game’s first line break, and it was the precursor to the game’s opening try; a marquee one at that. Finn Russell’s apparent fumble went backwards and after regathering, he slipped in Darcy Graham who took the invitation to become Scotland Men’s all-time leading try scorer and answered emphatically for his 36^th international score. Russell converted as Scotland got the start they had doubtless dreamed of (7-0, 5 mins).

When Matthieu Jalibert’s grubber escaped Théo Atissogbe’s clutches, it was something of a warning shot, and a portal of what was about to happen. Scotland won a scrum on their own 5m but after laying the foundations with a ruck from Sione Tuipulotu’s nudge, Antoine Dupont showed his street smarts in pilfering, before Jalibert found Louis Bialle-Biarrey in the left corner for the winger’s scarcely believable ninth try in consecutive Guinness Men’s Six Nations games. Ramos’ conversion was, as it so often is, on the money (7-7, 18 mins).

France’s next followed two minutes later and it was an altogether simpler task as Atissogbe ran onto Bialle-Biarrey’s grubber for the easiest of tries, Ramos again converting (7-14, 22 mins).

If many Scots feared the worst at that point, they were to be proven wrong and then some.

Graham was tackled off the ball, and then Oscar Jegou played Ben White before the scrum-half could use the ball at a ruck, and Russell caressed one into touch in order that Scotland might mount.

From the resulting line-out, they roared back into proceedings with a glorious bit of set-piece work. George Turner wrapped around and went full playmaker to put Kyle Steyn in on his inside, the winger scything through and going over for this 17^th Scotland try (12-14, 26 mins).

The hosts then had the opportunity to retake the lead when Julien Marchand was called offside by referee Angus Gardner after half an hour. Russell opted for the corner instead of the three-point penalty, and how it paid off.

It was like a scene from a battle movie as Scotland went time and again to the line without quite getting it done – largely down to some excellent French rearguard action. Penalty advantages stacked up and when Pierre Schoeman barged over for Scotland’s third, converted by Russell again, France’s woe was compounded by the showing of a yellow card for Jalibert (19-14, 33 mins).

Pictured: Pierre Schoeman emerges from scoring a seventh Scotland try

In the ascendancy without doubt, Scotland sought one more scoreboard ticker before the interval but France held out with 14 men, with which they would need to negotiate the first three minutes of the second half.

Half-time: Scotland 19-14 France

You felt it was imperative that Scotland got the first score of the second half and it took all of those three minutes for it to happen. After Sione Tuipulotu was collared high when he looked well placed to score, it was a case of Russell rinse and repeating a clip into the corner for another attacking set piece. Once more it brought priceless bullion for the hosts when, with another advantage in the bank, Ben White pounced on a gaping hole in French ranks to secure his side a try-scoring bonus point. Russell stretched the lead to 12 with his simplest conversion of the day (26-14, 43 mins).

If France were spooked, they were soon flat-out stunned when, from a seemingly innocuous ruck, Dupont’s pass found its way into the intercepting hands of Steyn, who, powered by the raucous capacity crowd, summoned the afterburners and hared home for his second, once more converted by Russell (33-14, 51 mins).

A French offside brought another, swaggering kick to the corner as Scotland looked to kill the game. And after another belligerent attacking maul, Blair Kinghorn wriggled and writhed in the tackle, buying enough time to allow Graham to dive through another porous gap to go over for his second under the sticks (40-14, 59 mins).

It was a day for doubting reality; for checking with those around you that what was happening was not just historic, but actually real. Dupont, the game’s greatest talent, somehow threw a forward pass inside his own goal area to hand Scotland a scrum 5m out. This time it was Tom Jordan who punched his way over for a seventh home try (47-14, 64 mins). Reality rarely looked so good.

Dupont then ended a length-of-field break with a stunning team try. That it barely raised an eyebrow from those of a Scottish persuasion highlighted the dominance the hosts had enjoyed. (47-21, 66 mins).

Even with the game won, Graham’s powers of stamina to race from his own station to cover a try on the left showcased the desire within Scottish ranks to avoid a visiting bonus point.

Ramos then delivered a tidy close-range finish to give France the bonus point they needed to remain top of the table – on points difference alone by this stage, from their hosts in second (47-26, 74 mins).

Russell took his own tally to 15, as Scotland remarkably reached a half-century of points with a late penalty, and Oscar Jegou had time to grab a fifth French try during which Josh Bayliss was sin-binned (50-33, 78 mins).

Ramos went over again – not many teams can have lost at international level after scoring six tries – and he converted but it was the final act (50-40, 80 mins).

The headline, from the myriad contenders, was that Scotland had comprehensively beaten the continent’s top team to win The Auld Alliance Trophy and ensure that the culmination of the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations will have a vested Scottish interest.

Full-time: Scotland 50-40 France

Pictured: The victorious Auld Alliance Trophy winners

Scotland: Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (captain), Kyle Steyn (all Glasgow Warriors); Finn Rusell (Bath Rugby), Ben White (Toulon); Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), George Turner (Harlequins), D’arcy Rae (Edinburgh Rugby), Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey (all Glasgow Warriors).

Replacements: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby) (for Turner, 51 mins), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors) (for Schoeman, 66 mins), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) (for Rae, 39 mins), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) (for Brown, 33 mins), Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby) (for Steyn, 66 mins), Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby) (for Cummings, 51 mins), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) (for White, 66 mins), Tom Jordan (Bristol Bears) (for Jones, 55 mins).

France: Thomas Ramos, Théo Attisogbe, Nicholas Depoortère, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bialle-Biarrey; Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont (captain); Jean-Baptiste Gros, Julien Marchand, Dorian Aldegheri, Charles Ollivon, Mickaël Guillard, François Cros, Oscar Jégou, Anthony Jelonch.

Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Rodrique Neti, Demba Bamba, Thibaud Flament Emmanuel Meafou, Lenni Nouchi, Baptiste Serin, Pierre-Louis Barassi.

Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU) and Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)
FPRO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Attendance: 67,144

Guinness Player of the Match: Kyle Steyn (Scotland)

The post Match Report: Scotland 50-40 France appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

Jack Dempsey, who has recovered from a bicep injury sustained against England last month, returns to anchor the pack at number 8, with Matt Fagerson switching to blindside flanker and Gregor Brown slotting into the second row to accommodate Dempsey’s selection.

Vice-captain Rory Darge starts on the openside flank for the third match in a row after an impressive Player of the Match display in Cardiff two weeks ago, with Scott Cummings partnering Brown in the engine room.

Darcy Graham, who tied the Men’s all-time try record at 35 with his dazzling score last time out, gets the nod on the right wing, with Kyle Steyn, also a try scorer against Wales, moving to the left and Blair Kinghorn listed at full-back.

Captain Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, now Scotland’s top try scorer in Six Nations history with 18, once more reprise their familiar centre partnership.

And it is as you were in the half-backs, with vice-captain and stand-off Finn Russell linking up with Ben White at scrum-half.

On the bench, flanker Freddy Douglas is primed for his second cap, having become the youngest Scotland international in more than 60 years when debuting against Portugal in November 2024.

Ewan Ashman also returns to the fold to cover hooker, with props Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson picked to make an impact as replacements.

Grant Gilchrist and Josh Bayliss complete the forward options, with scrum-half George Horne and the versatile Tom Jordan rounding off Scotland’s matchday 23 as they bid to reclaim The Auld Alliance trophy.

Scotland team to face France in the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday 7 March 2026, kick-off 2:10pm – live on BBC One (caps in brackets):

15. Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (63)
14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (53)
13. Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (61)
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors (36) – Captain
11. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (31)
10. Finn Russell – Bath Rugby (92) Vice-captain
9. Ben White – Toulon (34)
1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (47)
2. George Turner – Harlequins (53)
3. D’arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (5)
4. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (15)
5. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (48)
6. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (62)
7. Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors (37) Vice-captain
8. Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (31)

Replacements
16. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (33)
17. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (46)
18. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (79)
19. Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (86)
20. Freddy Douglas – Edinburgh Rugby (1)
21. Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (15)
22. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (43)
23. Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (15)

The post Scotland shuffle pack for French test appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

• Total matches played: 104

• France wins: 61

• Scotland wins: 40

• Draws: 3

Six Nations Results (2016–2025)

• 2016, Edinburgh: Scotland 29–18 France

• 2017, Paris: France 22–16 Scotland

• 2018, Edinburgh: Scotland 32–26 France

• 2019, Paris: France 27–10 Scotland

• 2020, Edinburgh: Scotland 28–17 France

• 2021, Paris: France 23–27 Scotland

• 2022, Edinburgh: Scotland 17–36 France

• 2023, Paris: France 32–21 Scotland

• 2024, Edinburgh: Scotland 16–20 France

• 2025, Paris: France 35–16 Scotland

Win-Loss Record (2016–2025)

• Scotland wins: 4

• France wins: 6

• Draws: 0

Aggregate Points and Margins (Last 10 Years)

• Scotland total points: 212

• Scotland average points per match: 21.2

• France total points: 256

• France average points per match: 25.6

• Largest Scotland margin: 11 points (29–18, 2016; 28–17, 2020)

• Largest France margin: 19 points (36–17, 2022; 35–16, 2025)

• Smallest margin: 4 points (Scotland 27–23 France, 2021; Scotland 16–20 France, 2024)

Home vs Away Performance (2016–2025)

In Scotland:

• Matches played: 5

• Scotland wins: 3

• France wins: 2

• Average Scotland score: 24.4

• Average France score: 23.4

In France:

• Matches played: 5

• Scotland wins: 1

• France wins: 4

• Average Scotland score: 18.0

• Average France score: 27.8

Scoring Highlights

• Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland): Scored the decisive last-minute try in the 2021 Paris victory, Scotland’s first win in the French capital since 1999.

• Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France): In the 2025 match, he scored his eighth try of the tournament, setting a new record for the most tries scored by an individual in a single Six Nations campaign.

• Point Consistency: Scotland has scored at least 15 points in 9 out of the last 10 meetings, highlighting the offensive nature of this specific rivalry.

The Auld Alliance Trophy

Since 2018, the match has carried additional significance with the introduction of the Auld Alliance Trophy. This trophy commemorates the rugby players from both nations who lost their lives during the First World War, specifically honoring the captains from the last matches played before the conflict: Scotland’s Eric Milroy and France’s Marcel Burgun.

Auld Alliance Trophy Summary (2018–2025):

• Scotland wins: 3

• France wins: 5

• Current Holders: France (Retained in 2025)

Next Scheduled Fixture

• Date: Saturday 7 March 2026

• Kick-off time: 2:10pm GMT

• Venue: Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh

• Competition: 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations

The post Scotland vs France: Head-to-Head Rugby Statistics (2016–2025) appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

The weekend’s rugby begins on Friday evening at Hive Stadium. Scotland’s Under-20 side will face a significant challenge against a physical French team as they continue their 2026 campaign.

• Date: Friday, 6 March 2026

• Kick-off: 6:15pm

• Venue: Hive Stadium, Edinburgh

How to watch Supporters can watch live coverage of the Under-20 match through BBC digital platforms. The game will be available to stream on the BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website, and via the BBC Sport app, streaming the full 80 minutes of action.

Scotland v France – Guinness Men’s Six Nations

The senior sides meet on Saturday afternoon at Scottish Gas Murrayfield. This fixture has produced some of the most entertaining matches in recent seasons, with both teams known for their expansive styles of play.

• Date: Saturday, 7 March 2026

• Kick-off: 2:10pm

• Venue: Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh

How to watch on TV and live stream

• TV: BBC One and Premier Sports

• Live stream: BBC iPlayer and the Premier Sports Player

The match will be broadcast live on BBC One, featuring a full build-up and post-match analysis. For those with a subscription, Premier Sports will also provide comprehensive live coverage of the encounter. Fans can stream the match live through the BBC iPlayer or the Premier Player app across all compatible devices.

Weekend Rugby at-a-glance

• Friday: Scotland U20 v France U20 – Live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport (6:15pm)

• Saturday: Scotland v France (Men’s Six Nations) – Live on BBC One & Premier Sports (2:10pm)

With both matches taking place in the capital, it is another important weekend for the national squads as they look to secure results on home soil.

The post How to follow Scotland v France this weekend appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

Scotland’s front row remains anchored by Nathan McBeth and Zander Fagerson at loosehead and tighthead prop respectively, while Dave Cherry returns to the starting line-up at hooker.

The second-row combination sees Williamson starting alongside Scott Cummings, whilst Gregor Brown moves to blindside flanker. Rory Darge remains at openside, and Matt Fagerson has been handed the number eight jersey, having made an impact off the bench against England.

For the back division, Townsend has opted to keep the same half-back pairing of Ben White and Finn Russell. In midfield, captain Sione Tuipulotu will once again partner with Huw Jones, whilst last week’s Guinness Player of the Match, Kyle Steyn retains his place on the right wing.

The remaining changes to the backline see Kinghorn selected at full-back and van der Merwe starting on the left wing.

Among the replacements, Pierre Schoeman and Elliot Millar Mills provide front-row reinforcements, with George Turner listed as the replacement hooker.
Gilchrist returns to supply experienced cover in the second row, while Bayliss provides versatility across the back row. Tom Jordan, George Horne and Darcy Graham complete the matchday 23 as backline options.

Scotland team to face Wales in the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations at the Principality Stadium on Saturday 24 February 2026, kick-off 4.40pm – live on BBC One (caps in brackets):

15. Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (63)
14. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (30)
13. Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (60)
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors (35) – Captain
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (52)

10. Finn Russell – Bath Rugby (91) – Vice-captain
9. Ben White – Toulon (33)
1. Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (7)
2. Dave Cherry – Vannes (17)
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (78)
4. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (11)
5. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (47)
6. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (14)
7. Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors (36) – Vice-captain
8. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (61)

Replacements

16. George Turner – Harlequins (52)
17. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (46)
18. Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints (13)
19. Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (85)
20. Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (14)
21. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (42)
22. Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (14)
23. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (52)

The post Five changes to Scotland team ahead of Wales clash in Cardiff appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

The weekend’s international rugby begins on Friday night at Cardiff Arms Park. The Scotland Under-20 side will be looking to build on their recent performances as they take on Wales in the heart of the Welsh capital.

• Date: Friday, 20 February 2026
• Kick-off: 7:15pm
• Venue: Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff

How to watch The match will be available to watch live on BBC digital platforms. Supporters can access the coverage via the BBC Sport website and the BBC iPlayer, providing live access to the next generation of talent as they compete away from home.

Wales v Scotland – Guinness Men’s Six Nations

The senior sides meet on Saturday afternoon at the Principality Stadium. With the Doddie Weir Cup on the line, Scotland will be aiming to retain on the road.

• Date: Saturday, 21 February 2026
• Kick-off: 4:40pm
• Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff

How to watch on TV and live stream

• TV: BBC One
• Live stream: BBC iPlayer and Premier Sports

The match will be broadcast live on BBC One, with the program including full match build-up and expert analysis. For those with a subscription, Premier Sports will also provide live coverage of the encounter. Fans on the move can stream the action via the BBC iPlayer or the Premier Player app.

Weekend Rugby at a Glance

• Friday: Wales U20 v Scotland U20 – Live on BBC digital platforms (7:15pm)
• Saturday: Wales v Scotland – Live on BBC One & Premier Sports (4:40pm)

With two significant fixtures taking place in Cardiff, it is another important weekend for Scotland teams before the fallow week.

The post How to follow Scotland v Wales this weekend appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

• Total matches played: 131
• Wales wins: 75
• Scotland wins: 53
• Draws: 3

Six Nations Results (2016–2025)

• 2016, Cardiff: Wales 27–23 Scotland
• 2017, Edinburgh: Scotland 29–13 Wales
• 2018, Cardiff: Wales 34–7 Scotland
• 2019, Edinburgh: Scotland 11–18 Wales
• 2020, Llanelli: Wales 10–14 Scotland
• 2021, Edinburgh: Scotland 24–25 Wales
• 2022, Cardiff: Wales 20–17 Scotland
• 2023, Edinburgh: Scotland 35–7 Wales
• 2024, Cardiff: Wales 26–27 Scotland
• 2025, Edinburgh: Scotland 35–29 Wales

Win-Loss Record (2016–2025)

• Scotland wins: 5
• Wales wins: 5
• Draws: 0

Aggregate Points and Margins (Last 10 Years)

• Scotland total points: 222
• Scotland average points per match: 22.2
• Wales total points: 219
• Wales average points per match: 21.9
• Largest Scotland margin: 28 points (35–7, 2023)
• Largest Wales margin: 27 points (34–7, 2018)
• Smallest margin: 1 point (Wales 26–27 Scotland, 2024; Scotland 24–25 Wales, 2021)

Home vs Away Performance (2016–2025)

In Scotland:

• Matches played: 5
• Scotland wins: 3
• Wales wins: 2
• Average Scotland score: 26.8
• Average Wales score: 18.4

In Wales:

• Matches played: 5
• Scotland wins: 2
• Wales wins: 3
• Average Scotland score: 17.6
• Average Wales score: 23.4

Try-Scoring Highlights

• Blair Kinghorn / Tom Jordan (Scotland): Both players scored two tries in the 35-29 victory at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in 2025.
• Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland): Crossed twice in the 2024 Cardiff win, helping Scotland secure their first victory in the Welsh capital for 22 years.
• Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales): Scored a decisive double in the 2021 encounter in Edinburgh to secure a narrow one-point win for the visitors.

Doddie Weir Cup Trends

Since 2018, the two sides have competed for the Doddie Weir Cup, established in honour of the legendary Scottish second row.

• Current Holders: Scotland (Retained in 2025)
• Recent Dominance: Scotland has won the last three consecutive meetings (2023, 2024, 2025), marking the first time they have achieved three straight Six Nations wins over Wales.
• Point Spikes: Scotland have scored 35 points in two of the last three encounters, matching their highest-ever score against Wales (originally set in 1924).

Next Scheduled Fixture

• Date: Saturday 21 February 2026
• Kick-off time: 4:40pm GMT
• Competition: 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations
• Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
• Scotland will look to defend the Doddie Weir Cup and extend their winning streak to four games.

The post Scotland vs Wales: Head-to-Head Rugby Statistics (2016–2025) appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

The two nations first met in 1883 at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh, during the inaugural Home Nations Championship. Scotland secured a victory in that first encounter, marking the beginning of a contest that has now spanned 131 matches. For much of the early 20th century, the fixture was a showcase of contrasting regional styles with Wales snatching their first victory over Scotland on the sixth encounter in 1888.

While Wales have historically held the advantage in total wins, the matches themselves have frequently been decided by single scores. This competitive tension has produced some truly memorable moments, from Scotland’s commanding 34-18 victory in Cardiff in 1982 to the dramatic 31-24 Welsh comeback in 2010.

The Doddie Weir Cup

In 2018, the fixture gained a new level of significance with the introduction of the Doddie Weir Cup. Named after the legendary Scotland Second Row following his diagnosis with Motor Neuron Disease (MND), the trophy was established through a joint initiative by the Scottish and Welsh Rugby Unions.

Beyond the silver trophy the competition was created to support the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. It has transformed the match into a platform for raising awareness and significant funds for MND research, ensuring that the legacy of one of the game’s most beloved figures remains at the heart of every Scotland-Wales encounter.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – FEBRUARY 11: Jamie Ritchie lifts trophy during a Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and Wales at BT Murrayfield, on February 11, 2023, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

Recent memory

The last decade has seen a notable shift in the competitive balance between the two sides. Following a period of Welsh dominance, Scotland have found significant success in recent years. This includes a historic win in Llanelli in 2020 and a drought-breaking 27-26 victory in Cardiff in 2024, Scotland’s first win at the Principality Stadium in over two decades.

In 2025, Scotland successfully defended the Doddie Weir Cup with a 35-29 victory at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, marking the first time the side has secured three consecutive Six Nations Championship wins over Wales. This run of form adds a layer of intrigue to this year’s trip to the Welsh capital, as Scotland look to maintain their hold on the trophy.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – MARCH 08: Scotland’s Tom Jordan and Wales Blair Murray in action during a Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and Wales at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, on March 08, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

The Next Chapter: Cardiff 2026

The latest chapter in this long-running series will be written this weekend as Scotland travel to the Welsh capital for the third round of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations.

• Date: Saturday 21 February
• Kick-off: 4:40pm
• Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
• Watch: Live on BBC and Premier Sports

The post Scotland vs Wales: A Century of Competition appeared first on Scottish Rugby.