The Men’s Six Nations and the U20 Six Nations may be over, but the Women’s Six Nations is coming soon and runs from April 11 to May 17.
Quite a lot has changed when it comes to Scotland since last year’s tournament so here is some key info as the build up to the event starts to crank up…
New head coach
Bryan Easson, now working with the Netherlands men and rugby in that country in general, left the head coach role that he had been in since 2020 after Rugby World Cup 2025 in England.
In December, Sione Fukofuka was appointed as the new head coach.
Australian Fukofuka brings a decade of experience across international women’s and men’s rugby teams to the table and most recently he was head coach of the USA women’s national team from 2023 to 2025.
“I am honoured and privileged to have the opportunity to lead the Scotland women’s programme,” he said when appointed.
“Scottish Rugby’s vision and direction for the future of the women’s programme is one that drew me to the role.”
New assistant coaches
Defence coach Tyrone Holmes, like Easson, moved on after the World Cup after a number of years in post. After a short spell with the Netherlands men he is now with Wales women.
Attack coach Matt Banahan left before the World Cup and Fukofuka has brought in former Wales and Fiji women’s head coach Ioan Cunningham has as senior assistant coach and Dave Butcher as forwards coach. Most recently Butcher served as assistant coach with Canada as they reached the World Cup final.
First head of women’s performance and pathways and first managing director of women’s rugby appointed by Scottish Rugby
Andy Rhys Jones, who moved from Harlequins early in 2026, is now leading the strategic growth and development of Scotland’s women’s player pathways, national age grade teams and the women’s senior national team.
As Scottish Rugby’s first head of women’s performance and pathways his focus is on building a sustainable talent pipeline, enhancing performance structures and ensuring Scotland’s elite athletes are supported to succeed at the highest level of the international game.
And in her newly created position as managing director of women’s rugby, Gemma Fay, who was already with the governing body, is leading the continued expansion and professionalisation of women’s rugby in Scotland to ensure sustainable success from grassroots through to the elite programmes.
The key areas of responsibility for this role are strategic development, commercialisation and financial budget management.
Player retirements
At the end of the World Cup, Jade Konkel, Lisa Cockburn and Caity Mattinson called time on their stellar international careers while, since then, Christine Belisle has also made the same decision.
Contracted players
In September, Scottish Rugby confirmed its annual contracting model for the 2025/26 season for the women’s game with 35 players receiving financial support.
Seventeen players are continuing their development within the PWR and French Elite league structures. Within Scotland 11 players are fully supported with seven players on development contracts.
Players supported out with Scotland
Chloe Rollie (Toulon)
Emma Wassell (Ealing Trailfinders)
Emma Orr (Bristol Bears)
Lisa Thomson (Ealing Trailfinders)
Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning)
Sarah Bonar (Harlequins)
Rachel Malcolm (Ealing Trailfinders)
Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier)
Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears)
Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears)
Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears)
Rhona Lloyd (Sale Sharks)
Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears)
Francesca McGhie (Ealing Trailfinders)
Leia Brebner-Holden (Loughborough Lightning)
Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning)
Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning)
Players supported in Scotland
Alex Stewart (University of Edinburgh)
Adelle Ferrie (Corstorphine Cougars)
Molly Poolman (Watsonians)
Aila Ronald (University of Edinburgh)
Hannah Ramsay (Watsonians)
Hannah Walker (University of Edinburgh)
Emily Norval (Stirling County)
Holland Bogan (Stirling County)
Merryn Gunderson (Corstorphine Cougars)
Emily Coubrough (University of Edinburgh)
Nicole Flynn (University of Edinburgh)
Players on Development support
Poppy Mellanby (University of Edinburgh)
Poppy Fletcher (University of Edinburgh)
Megan Hyland (Heriot’s Rugby)
Ceitidh Ainsworth (Stirling County)
Imogen Spence (University of Edinburgh)
Talei Tawake (Watsonians)
Sky Phimister (Stirling County)
Contracting was something that cast a big cloud over Scotland’s World Cup campaign in terms of the way things were being handled and, since then, some players have spoken to the BBC about the negative impact the situation had on them.
National Team Agreement
Players selected for Scotland are remunerated separately through the National Team Agreement. This is in addition to any Scottish Rugby support they may receive. This means players, regardless of whether they are supported by Scottish Rugby or not, are paid for the time spent in camp preparing for Test matches and are given match fees if selected to play.
Women’s Six Nations and Rugby World Cup in 2025
Scotland defeated Wales and Ireland at home at Hive Stadium and lost away to France and eventual champions England and at home to Italy.
That meant that they finished fourth in the standings.
Later in the year, Scotland defeated Wales and Fiji in Manchester and then lost to Canada in Exeter to finish second in their World Cup pool. That set up a quarter-final clash with eventual tournament winners England in Bristol where Scotland’s journey came to an end.
2026 so far
The players who will be bidding for Six Nations selection soon have either been playing in the Celtic Challenge for Edinburgh Rugby or Glasgow Warriors or in England and France. A number of players likely to be in contention for the event have also been nursing injuries.
Fukofuka held his first camp with the players at Oriam on the outskirts of Edinburgh in January as he tries to get to know everyone and, in the end, over 50 players attended.
We await to hear when he will name his squad for the Six Nations.
The tournament
Scotland begin away to Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on April 11 before hosting England at Murrayfield seven days later and then heading to Italy to play at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on April 25.
After a break, round four sees the Scots host France on May 9 and they conclude things by heading to Ireland to take on the hosts at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on ‘Super Sunday’ on May 17.
Let the excitement begin…
Sione Fukofuka is pictured – thanks to ST Photography
GH Media will be covering Scotland’s Women’s Six Nations campaign from start to finish in detail – if any companies are keen to support this content please send an email to gary@gh-media.co.uk