Scotland Rugby News

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY CALUM CROWE: When it comes to beating the Boks, Ali Price is one of the very few Scotland players who can speak from knowledge and experience.

ROB ROBERTSON IN MARSEILLE: Townsend has revealed his formula for success revolves around fly-half Finn Russell and wingers Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham.

MIKE BROWN: Following a captivating opening two days of the 2023 Rugby World Cup , the action rolls on to its third day in France on Sunday.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Like any good party, this World Cup needs all its attendees to contribute and that includes England, who can look at Alex Mitchell as one of their keys to success.

South Africa are in confident mood ahead of their World Cup showdown with Scotland - after taking the bold step to name their team two days early.

With just days to go until Scotland's opening World Cup fixture against South Africa, we gathered together Ryan Wilson, Andy Nicol and Jason White to discuss the major talking points.

INTERVIEW BY ROB ROBERTSON: A rugby pitch can be a lonely place, even for the most confident and assured of players. Even for those hellbent on 'perfection'.

Many will have seen the new laws implemented during the Summer Nations Series in the lead up the World Cup.

The players' case, against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) claims they received brain damage playing the sport.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON IN PARIS: The manager of the restaurant knows who is coming. 'Bernard Laporte? OK. We open a private area for him,' says the boss.

For the fourth warm-up match in succession, Gregor Townsend's side trailed at the break after a couple of penalties from stand-off Luka Matkava put the visitors 6-0 up.

This year's tournament is scheduled to take place in France, with South Africa looking to successfully retain the trophy.

Mail Sport columnist Sir Clive Woodward, Bryan Habana, and George Gregan also won the men's competition, while Maggie Alphonsi and Danielle Waterman won it with England Women.

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has named his 33-player squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup 2023 with former captain Stuart McInally the only big name to be cut.

ALEX BYWATER: The 20 teams who will be part of the tournament in France are busy preparing for its start in September with a series of games, the majority of which kick off in August, to come.

ALEX BYWATER: The British & Irish Lions are poised to play in front of a record crowd in Australia in 2025 after the fixtures for their nine-match tour were officially confirmed. 

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY HEATHER DEWAR: 'How are you?' I ask. 'How are you feeling?' There's a brief silence at the other end.' Och, the slow decline is still happening,' Shaw admits.

ROB ROBERTSON: There's no doubt he will go down in history as one of Scotland's all-time great players - and certainly as one of the most dynamic and exciting to watch.

Scotland international Stuart Hogg has announced his retirement from rugby union with immediate effect and reveals he will not be taking part in the World Cup.

Greig, an elite performance officer at Irish rugby club Munster, was in South Africa to support his son Jack (pictured) and the Ireland squad during the World Rugby U20 Championships.

Three years ago, Jodie Burrage was ready to slam the door shut on tennis. Ankle surgeries and fractures to a knee, an arm and ribs had taken their toll.

DAVID PILDITCH: Robinson - the only Englishman to score a try in a World Cup-winning team - set to work with a can of line-marking paint to create the 'grassterpiece'.

ALEX BYWATER: Maitland admitted his extended Saracens stay was 'lastminute.com' and the wing hopes he may yet have a chance of sealing a late spot in Scotland's World Cup squad.

The game at the home of English rugby has already attracted some of the biggest names in rugby and Brown will be joined in the World XV side by Edinburgh's giant Fijian Bill Mata.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON: The Scottish magician is approaching his finale. Aged 30, he knows his powers have faded, battered out of him, physically and mentally.

This was a marketeer's dream but a purist's nightmare. Crowd were serenaded by the Kaiser Chiefs and wowed by the odd flash of magic from Smith, but in rugby terms it counted for nothing.

ALEX BYWATER: Nowell described Karl Dickson's sending off of Exeter's Olly Woodburn against Leicester on Sunday as 'one of the worst decisions I've ever seen.'

Sportsmail understands that the 30-year-old, who has 100 Scotland caps and is his country's top try-scorer with 27 touchdowns, is ready to step away from both club and international rugby.

It marked a special occasion for co-captain Hunter, who signed off on her rugby career with a commanding win on home soil at Kingston Park, where England easily secured the bonus point.

Bath might be bottom of the Premiership once again this season, but the club's chief executive has promised a revolution on and off the field at The Rec.

Sportsmail breaks down everything you need to know ahead of the 2023 Women's Six Nations including when it starts, full fixture schedule and how to watch.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: We have seen some brilliant rugby and now the focus turns to the World Cup later this year. Here is my Six Nations review and where I see the Northern Hemisphere teams going into the global showpiece.

Blair Kinghorn rose to the challenge of replacing Finn Russell at stand-off as he scored a hat-trick of tries to help Scotland end their Guinness Six Nations campaign with a bonus-point victory over Italy.

CHRIS FOY: All coaches need some good fortune sometimes and that was certainly the case for Warren Gatland in Rome. His second stint in charge of Wales was in early trouble.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: This is an alarm bell for everyone , not just the England team. For our senior men's side to lose 53-10 in a home Six Nations game is totally unacceptable.

Stuart Hogg believes it will take a career-best performance if Scotland are to mark his 100th cap with victory over Ireland at Murrayfield.

There have been two moments in the last week which have shown just how far new Wales international Mason Grady has come in such a short space of time.

CHRIS FOY: England will be away from home for 'Le Crunch' as the culmination of their campaign on March 16, 2024 - as the schedule for next year's tournament is unveiled.

CHRIS FOY: This was difficult after a weekend when the three winning teams were far from imperious - so much so that an original version of this team featured a different half-back pairing.

CHRIS FOY: Something felt a bit different about the Cardiff atmosphere this time. It lacked some of the usual fervour when England visit. Perhaps there is a weary sense of dejection

A disastrous opening 20 minutes ultimately proved costly for Scotland as their perfect start to the Guinness Six Nations campaign came to an end with a 32-21 defeat by France in Paris.

ALEX BYWATER AT MURRAYFIELD: Russell was at his supreme best, creating two tries for Kyle Steyn, the first of which, described as 'easy', involved a glorious out-of-the-tackle pass.

Ireland's epic victory over France showed they are surging towards the World Cup with ever greater conviction. Sportsmail's CHRIS FOY takes a look at the things you may have missed.

Jack Willis made a stunning, roaring return to England's starting line-up as Steve Borthwick's side belatedly launched their new era by mauling gallant Italy into submission.

Recap how England secured their first win of the 2023 Six Nations, and their first under new boss Steve Borthwick, with Sportsmail's live blog. Coverage from MAX MATHEWS.

MIKE BROWN: England have lost their dog. They've lost that tough and nasty edge and they need to get it back, quickly. Opponents aren't scared of England at the moment. The fear has gone.

ALEX BYWATER AT MURRAYFIELD: Biggar had heaped the pressure on the hosts before kick-off and poked fun at their lack of Championship success. Ultimately, it backfired in spectacular fashion.

Steve Borthwick's England will be looking to pick up their first Six Nations win in 2023 when they host Italy on Sunday.

EXCLUSIVE: Sportsmail has learned that the Six Nations have taken charge of collectively selling the TV rights for the six European sides ahead of the World Cup in the hope of getting a better deal.

DANIEL MATTHEWS: Scotland are determined to break with tradition and use their Calcutta Cup victory over England as the start of 'something special' in this year's Six Nations.

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend compared Duhan van der Merwe's stunning solo try against England to playing a video game after the wing inspired his side to a pulsating Calcutta Cup win

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I think that if England had won the game last night they might have learned the wrong lessons, so a loss could actually benefit them in the long run.

NIK SIMON AT TWICKENHAM: Hopes of a quick fix in the Borthwick era were dashed on day one. That feeling of disappointment returned but the result must be kept in perspective.

Scottish wing Duhan van der Merwe scored a 55-yard try with a dazzling solo run during the Calcutta Cup meeting with England at Twickenham. 

Follow Sportsmail's live blog for the Six Nations clash between England and Scotland.  

Hassell-Collins has been one of English rugby's form players for the past two seasons and will finally earn a Test chance when the Six Nations kicks off on Saturday.

England and Scotland will go head-to-head tis weekend as both teams look to start their Six Nations campaign with a win. Here's everything you need to know.

CHRIS FOY: Maro Itoje has backed the England team to be energised by the inclusion of several fresh faces against Scotland, who had previously been out of the cold under Eddie Jones.

A new era begins with Steve Borthwick naming his first England side having taken over from Eddie Jones. Manu Tuilagi was dropped from the matchday 23, with Joe Marchant starting.

The Glasgow prop has been sidelined since the start of December with a hamstring injury and forwards coach John Dalziel said on Tuesday he was in contention for the Calcutta Cup showdown.

This year's Six Nations will be the subject of a warts-and-all Netflix series, with cameras behind the scenes following the teams and capturing all the drama.

With the Six Nations returning this weekend, France will be looking to retain their title. Sportsmail breaks down how you can watch the full tournament.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON: 'It's not dangerous, I swear,' says Finn Russell, wearing a cheeky grin as he juggles fire sticks in his back garden in Paris. It is close to 10pm.

SIX NATIONS SPECIAL: Rugby is in a state of turmoil, with new tackle-height laws, financial trouble, the spectre of concussions and dementia and a series of governance scandals.

ALEX BYWATER: Bath wing McConnochie played and scored for England at the 2019 World Cup, but after falling out of favour he has now taken advantage of rugby's change in eligibility rules.

The Six Nations and Netflix have confirmed they will produce a behind-the-scenes documentary on the 2023 Championship. Filming is set to begin next month.

On social media, Russell and Bath were trending as his highlights reels flooded Twitter. Very few players in rugby today can have that sort of impact. Russell is one.

Sportsmail were the first to reveal Russell was in advanced talks with Bath and his agreement to join them is a huge statement of intent by their head of rugby Johann van Graan.

CHRIS FOY: The new head coach was duly unveiled at Twickenham, two weeks after Eddie Jones's fate was sealed following a dire autumn Test campaign.

Hundreds of people from the world of rugby union and beyond have gathered at Melrose Parish Church, which overlooks the Borders town's rugby club, where Weir won three Scottish titles in the 1990s.

EXCLUSIVE BY ALEX BYWATER: A behind-the-scenes Six Nations series is set to come to Netflix, with talks between the two parties at an advanced stage as rugby looks to emulate F1's success.

The 58-year-old had been in charge of the Romanian side since 2019, but has run into poor form of late, with only two wins in 2022 from eight matches, beating only Uruguay and Portugal.

Rugby league hero Rob Burrow, 40, became close friends with Weir when he was diagnosed with the disease in 2019. He tells Sportsmail's David Coverdale what legacy his 'friendly giraffe' will leave.

Social media has paid tribute to former Scotland rugby union player Doddie Weir following his death aged 52. Among those leading the tributes is former England rugby player Brian Moore.

EXCLUSIVE BY CHRIS FOY: Bath are finalising terms to sign fly-half Finn Russell in a transfer deal which would be a stunning coup for the West Country club and the troubled Premiership.

Gregor Townsend has realised Finn Russell is one of Scotland's best three fly-halves after all. The Racing 92 playmaker orchestrated the demolition of Argentina.

Crestfallen Gregor Townsend rued Scotland's inability to secure an historic victory after New Zealand fought back in the closing stages at Murrayfield on Sunday.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY ALEX BYWATER: Finn Russell has revealed that prior to his return to the Scotland squad, he hadn't spoken to Gregor Townsend since the Six Nations.

Nathan Cleary was handed his Australia debut and stamped himself as his country's starting halfback with a masterful performance against poor opposition, pulling the strings all night.