Six Nations 2026 focus: Can Scotland win a long-awaited title or will they campaign for Gregor Townsend’s fate? | Rugby Union News
In Scotland, 2025 produced many of the same frustrations. High hopes have been extinguished by inconsistent performances and costly missed opportunities.
Gregor Townsend’s charges beat Italy and Wales comfortably (for the most part) at home in the competition, but against a much tougher side they lost their next three games to finish fourth again – the fifth time they have done so in six seasons.
Ireland visited Murrayfield and dominated Scotland again, winning 32-18 to win their 11th Test in a row against the Scots, and only the men in blue will know how they failed to beat England at Twickenham in a very upset 16-15 defeat.
Their campaign ended with France challenging for the title in Paris, but not much as Les Bleus started to win.
In 2026, Scotland will host England and France in Edinburgh, however, and avoid Ireland in Dublin until the final weekend. Could it finally be their year?
Here, we take a closer look at how Scotland are shaping up ahead of their first home game of 2026 against Italy in Rome…
Correction
- Italy – Stadio Olimpico – Saturday February 7 – 2.10pm (GMT)
- England – Murrayfield – Saturday February 14 – 4.40pm (GMT)
- Wales – Principality Stadium – Saturday February 21 – 4.40pm (GMT)
- France – Murrayfield – Saturday March 7 – 2.10pm (GMT)
- Ireland – Aviva Stadium – Saturday March 14 – 2.10pm (GMT)
What has changed?
Having missed the 2025 Six Nations campaign due to a chest injury, standout center Sione Tuipulotu returns as the team’s captain.
Also recalled from the squad are Jonny Gray and hook player Dave Cherry, both of whom were left out of Scotland’s disappointing autumn.
Speaking of November, Scotland’s best chance in a long time – perhaps ever – of securing a first Test win over New Zealand came to naught as they came from 17-0 down to level at 17-17 and faced an All Blacks side that had a man down for 10 of the last 18 minutes.
However, Scotland could not score against 14, instead losing the game late on.
Townsend’s team also managed to lose in the jaws of victory by coming out ahead 21-0 and lost to Argentina 33-24 at home, where the hosts were beaten.
Scotland’s Autumn campaign has been one of great frustration, as they let a huge chance to beat New Zealand slip away before losing 21-0 to Argentina earlier.
Hard-fought wins over the USA and Tonga on either side of that defeat did little to generate excitement, despite the free-scoring onslaught involved in 85-0 and 56-0 victories.
A number of Scotland players also featured on the tour of the British and Irish Lions in the summer, as Andy Farrell’s side secured a 2-1 victory over Australia.
Loosehead Pierre Schoeman, locks Scott Cummings, Ben White, fly-half Finn Russell, Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, wing Duhan van der Merwe and full-back Blair Kinghorn were all selected for the tour – each from the exit bar White, who was called up early – and a number of other players were subsequently included in the Australian squad.
Such representation marked a major change in the Scottish Lions’ relationship of late where they have not seen players nominated, and that would be good for them.
A number of Scottish players, such as Finn Russell and Blair Kinghorn, gained representation for the British and Irish Lions in the summer.
What’s hot?
Russell has clearly established himself as one of the best players in the world, and in 33 years he will look to 2026 as the year he must guide Scotland to silverware.
The fly-half has started all three Tests for the Lions and stood out in the win against the Wallabies, and also led Bath to Premiership and Challenge Cup success last season.
Fly-half Russell is one of the best players in the world and will look to 2026 as the year he leads Scotland to the trophy.
Scotland’s back line is also extremely talented. Russell, Toulouse full-back Kinghorn and Edinburgh wings Van der Merwe and Darcy Graham are good players, each capable of turning Test matches Scotland’s way.
Centers Jones and Tuipulotu stood out for the Lions during the summer as well, both finishing the tour as Test Lion top scorers.
Blair Kinghorn is another outstanding player for Scotland within their back line
This year’s program is once again a big one for the Scots.
They start by facing Italy away, then host England at home in what could prove to be a crucial Calcutta Cup in terms of the tournament.
Wales in Cardiff are next in Round 3, which at this stage should prove a win for Wales, ahead of a home clash with defending champions France in Round 4 following a dark week of replays.
Scotland are wrapping up their tour of Ireland, but by then they may still be looking for something while the Irish – coming from the downhill side – may have already been taken out of operation.
Scotland will host England and France at Murrayfield in 2026 and avoid Ireland’s bogey team in Dublin until the final weekend.
What is missing?
There is a growing sense in Scottish rugby – especially after the frustration of November – that change may be needed at the top to take the next step forward.
Townsend has been in charge of Scotland since 2017, and while they are arguably a better team under him than before, he has also overseen back-to-back Rugby World Cup qualifiers in 2019 and 2023, has never beaten Ireland, New Zealand or South Africa in a Test, and has never guided Scotland to Six Nations glory.
The 52-year-old woman was asked clearly and publicly by Scottish journalists during the Autumn if her position should be in question, and if she had any desire to continue in the role. Currently, he lives in the area.
Gregor Townsend has been in charge of Scotland since 2017 and came under huge pressure in November
In many ways, Scotland’s performance against the All Blacks at Murrayfield in November could and should have been one of their biggest days, but they fell flat when the opportunity presented itself.
That, too, has become a recurring pattern: Scotland showing mental weakness or inability to strike at the biggest moments in the biggest Tests.
The Achilles heel of Scottish rugby remains a lack of strength in forwards and set-pieces, however. It’s this area of the pitch that continues to leave them behind against other sides, and it has a lot to do with their strange incoherence.
Championship record
Six Nations since 2000: None
Total: 15 titles directly (1887, 1889, 1891, 1895, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1907, 1925, 1929, 1933, 1938, 1984, 1990, 1990)
Scotland’s 40-man squad for the 2026 Six Nations:
Forward (23): Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh), Gregor Brown (Glasgow), Dave Cherry (Vannes), Scott Cummings (Glasgow), Alex Craig (Glasgow), Rory Darge (Glasgow), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow (Glasgow), Freddysgow Fagerson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux Bègles), Nathan McBeth (Glasgow), Liam McConnell (Edinburgh), Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton). D’arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Perpignan), Jamie Ritchie (Perpignan), Edin Sutherland (Glasgow), George Turner (Harlequins), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors).
Background (17): Fergus Burke (Saracens), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Adam Hastings (Glasgow), George Horne (Glasgow), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Tom Jordan (Bristol), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Staffordn McDowall (Rossell), Staffordn McDowall (Glasgow), Ollie Smith (Glasgow), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow, captain), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (Toulon).
