Rugby

The recent success of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, combined with strong performances by Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby in the Celtic Challenge, has highlighted the growing strength of women’s rugby in Scotland. At the elite level, progress is visible and encouraging.   However, beneath that progress, there are increasing concerns that the domestic structure is not fully supporting the long-term development of the game.   At the weekend, I was at Cartha for what was scheduled to be a cup fixture between Cartha Women and Dumfries. During the week, it became apparent that one of the sides was struggling to fulfil the tie. Following discussions between the clubs, the cup fixture was formally forfeited by Dumfries. However, rather than cancel the occasion entirely, a combined Dumfries and Annan side travelled north to play a friendly instead. All three clubs had experienced repeated issues with fixtures going ahead and were determined simply to ensure that rugby was played.   While the solution showed commendable cooperation, it also reflected a wider challenge facing the women’s game.   At community level, fixture congestion is emerging as a significant issue. Premiership clubs are expected to compete in the Sarah Beaney Cup, yet repeated clashes with the Celtic Challenge have weakened the competition. One of the leading Premiership sides, Stirling County, withdrew after a substantial number of their players were selected for Glasgow or Edinburgh duty. Although replacement players were available through local university programmes, the coaching staff opted not to field players without experience at that level. The result was a national cup competition without one of its strongest contenders.   Further down the league structure, similar pressures are being felt. Several Division One champions who qualified for promotion play-offs reportedly contacted Scottish Rugby to request permission to prioritise cup competitions instead. While the opportunity to play at Murrayfield remains a major incentive, many clubs have expressed concern about the significant step up in quality and physicality between Division One and the Premiership. For some, the challenge is less about ambition and more about sustainability.   Participation numbers continue to grow at youth and community level, which is undoubtedly positive. However, increased numbers also place greater demands on facilities, volunteers, coaching resources and fixture scheduling. Many clubs are attempting to manage expanding squads within a competition framework that was not designed for the current level of participation.   These issues raise important questions about how the women’s game is structured moving forward.   One potential solution would be a restructuring of the domestic leagues. A national Premiership-style division, better aligned with the Celtic Challenge calendar, could reduce fixture clashes and provide a clearer pathway for players. Lower-ranked Premiership teams could compete more regularly with the strongest regional sides, creating more balanced competition while maintaining standards. Below that level, leagues could be streamlined into two or three divisions based on participation and geography.   Regular, meaningful competition is essential to player development and retention. Exposure to higher-quality opposition is important, but equally vital is ensuring that fixtures are fulfilled consistently and safely. Growth must be matched by structure.   Encouragingly, the youth game continues to show strong signs of progress. Attendances at women’s internationals are increasing, and several clubs have established thriving girls’ sections. The next step is ensuring that these players have a clear and sustainable pathway into adult rugby, where consistent opportunities to compete are available.   Women’s rugby in Scotland is clearly moving in the right direction. The momentum at the top of the game is genuine. The challenge now is ensuring that the domestic structure evolves at the same pace, providing stability, opportunity and appropriate competition at every level.   With participation rising and standards improving, this may be the right time for Scottish Rugby to reassess how the women’s game is organised — not because it is failing, but because it is growing.  

The debate between club and school rugby in Scotland is beginning to resemble football’s long-running “club versus country” dispute — but at a youth level, and with far fewer resources at stake. While rugby’s professional calendar is carefully managed to avoid clashes, the amateur landscape tells a very different story. Dual Commitments Work — Until Age 14 Before the age of 14, the system functions smoothly. Young players can turn out for their school on a Saturday and their club on a Sunday, giving them more rugby and more development time without fixture conflicts. But at U15, the structure changes dramatically. Club competitions become formal leagues, and SRU regulations prevent players from taking part in two competitive matches on the same weekend. What had been a flexible setup quickly becomes a direct battle for player availability. Clubs Feeling the Strain Clubs often lose out. Many of the most promising players come from schools with well-established rugby programmes — regular coaching, strong facilities, and weekly fixtures. Clubs, by contrast, rely heavily on volunteers and generally offer fewer training hours. West of Scotland’s U15 side found this out the hard way. After boasting a strong and well-balanced U14 group, the club saw numbers fall significantly the following season as school commitments took priority. But Schools Are Under Pressure Too It’s not just clubs that are feeling the squeeze. Even schools with proud rugby traditions now struggle to field more than one team each weekend. Second XV fixtures are increasingly cancelled because opposition schools cannot raise full squads. The result? Fewer meaningful matches and more young players limited to training-only weeks — a situation that benefits no one. This leaves both club and school coaches with difficult decisions: select the players who regularly attend club training, or choose the stronger school-aligned athletes who may be unavailable under SRU restrictions? Is a Combined Pathway Realistic? Some have suggested an integrated school-club pathway. But that idea immediately hits familiar obstacles: Schools traditionally play on Saturdays Clubs traditionally play on Sundays Neither side is keen to abandon its established slot, and many dual-pathway programmes already rely on this two-day structure. The Open Competition: A Trial with Limits In 2025, the SRU introduced the Open Competition, designed to bring top school and club teams together at U16 and U18 levels. It stemmed from the recommendations of the U18 Pathway Review and aimed to provide high-quality fixtures across both sectors. But uptake was small. Only five schools and three clubs entered, with many major rugby schools opting out entirely. From the outset, it was clear the competition was too narrow to fix wider participation and scheduling challenges. The Road Ahead The core issue remains unchanged: Young players need more rugby — not more barriers. To achieve that, the SRU will need a more inclusive and sustainable approach. The current format of the Open Competition is not enough. Its selective nature fails to address the structural divide affecting most youth players across Scotland. Resolving the club-school conflict will be essential for developing the next generation of Scottish talent. Whether through calendar reform, shared governance, or more flexible development pathways, the goal is straightforward: More games, better development, and greater opportunities for every young player in Scottish rugby.

Canterbury has renewed its partnership with Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR), strengthening its support for the women’s game in England. The global rugby brand confirmed it will provide every registered player in the league with kit and boots tailored to their playing position, marking a significant step in investment and recognition for female athletes. The announcement, made on 28 October, comes as part of Canterbury’s ongoing efforts to develop women-specific rugby equipment. More than 450 players across nine clubs will benefit from the initiative, which aims to address the differing requirements between positions such as the front row and scrum-half, while ensuring female players have access to properly fitted, high-performance gear. While Canterbury has not traditionally been the leading choice of boot supplier among PWR players, as the brand does not currently offer boots specifically designed for women, this latest move signals a clear intent to expand its influence in the women’s game and respond to the growing demand for female-focused products. One PWR player told us this was the most significant aspect of the announcement — and a long overdue step forward. Growing Commercial Backing for the PWR Canterbury’s renewed partnership follows a series of major sponsorship announcements within Premiership Women’s Rugby. In October, Gallagher Insurance became the league’s official insurance partner, further strengthening ties between the women’s and men’s professional competitions. At club level, sides across the PWR are also expanding their commercial portfolios. Ealing Trailfinders Women recently extended their partnership with Arnold Hill, a chartered accountancy firm that supports the club’s TrailfindHERS programme — an initiative investing in youth and girls’ rugby. These partnerships are viewed as essential in helping clubs develop the infrastructure required to sustain the professional game, attract new players and fans, and build long-term stability. Progress and the Path Ahead Industry observers have welcomed the increased corporate interest in women’s rugby as a sign of its growing appeal and commercial potential. Tailored investment from brands such as Canterbury is also seen as an important step in improving accessibility and inclusion within the sport. Beyond England, competitions such as the Celtic Challenge — involving teams from Scotland, Ireland and Wales — are helping to grow the women’s game further. Following Scotland’s strong performances at the recent World Cup, there is optimism that progress in England will continue to inspire development across the home nations. With more major brands showing confidence in women’s rugby, the game looks set to continue its upward trajectory — both on and off the field.

Fresh from becoming only the second match official to referee two World Cup Finals, Hollie Davidson is once again smashing through the glass ceiling of world rugby. When the All Blacks visit Wales in November, Hollie will become the first female match official to referee the All Blacks. Since her days training for Scotland as a player were cut short by injury, Hollie quickly progressed as a match official and is now seen by many as one of the best referees in both the men’s and women’s games. A firm fan favourite, other notable highlights include receiving her official refereeing cap from the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) in February 2025, the second Scottish referee and first female to receive it. Later in the year, she received the World Rugby Referee Award shortly ahead of the World Cup Final. As well as award-winning performances on the field, her achievements have seen her take charge of an EPCR Final (the first female to do so). She has refereed the Springboks, led the first all-female team to officiate a Six Nations match, and has refereed some high-profile Sevens games. Not bad for the age of 33. She has her sights well and truly set on the next Men’s World Cup. Over the coming weeks, SNN will look at the impact referees can have all the way from the community game to inspiring younger generations, building up to Hollie’s match in November.