This is a crucial season for Scotland Women. With a new head coach appointed in May and an historic winning tour to South Africa already under their belt, the Scotland squad is now building up to next year’s qualification tournament for the 2021 Rugby World Cup with two Autumn Tests and an away match against Spain before the Six Nations in the Spring.

“We are at an important moment in the Scotland Women squad development cycle and this year is all about us trying to put ourselves in the best position possible ahead of the World Cup qualifiers next year”
Gemma Fay, Head of Women & Girls Rugby

New Head Coach

Former Ireland Women’s head coach Philip Doyle was named as the new Scotland Women Head Coach in May 2019. Doyle joined having gained a wealth of international experience in the women’s game, including winning a Grand Slam with Ireland Women in 2013 and qualification to the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

He kicked off his Scotland tenure with an historic first-ever series win in South Africa, with two convincing wins over the Springboks (who have already qualified for the 2021 Rugby World Cup) following up their 47-5 first test triumph with a 38-15 win in the second test.

Autumn Tests

The squad’s two Autumn Tests will be played at Scotstoun in November against Wales on Sunday 17 November, kick-off 3.10pm and Japan on Sunday 24 November, kick-off 1pm. Find out more HERE.

Spain v Scotland

In the new year Scotland travel to Almeria for a Test against Spain (Sunday 19 January, kick-off 11am GMT) ahead of the 2020 Six Nations. Spain are currently ranked 9th in the world (Scotland are 11th having moved up one following their series win in South Africa) and are the reigning Rugby Europe Women’s Champions. (If they retain this title they will join Scotland, Ireland and Italy in the Rugby World Cup qualifying tournament next September.)

2020 Six Nations

The Women’s Six Nations Championship runs alongside the men’s tournament and Scotland Women’s opening home game is against the 2019 Champions, the Red Roses, kicking off at Scotstoun just under 24 hours after the Calcutta Cup match at BT Murrayfield. The England game at Scotstoun in 2018 attracted the biggest-ever crowd for a home Scotland Women game, a record that is expected to be broken against this season. England Women are ranked number 2 in the world and Scotland’s next opponents at Scotstoun, France on Saturday 7 March (the day before the men’s international at BT Murrayfield) are ranked number 3. Tickets are on sale now priced at £15 (Adults), £5 (U18s) and £1 (one U12 ticket per paying adult). Find out more HERE.

Season-Long 4-Match Package

Introduced for the first time this year, the 2019/20 Scotland Women 4-Match Package covers all four of the squad’s home games this season. This is priced at £40 for adults (a saving of £10 across all four games) with the U18 version £15 and a special U12 package for only £4!

2021 Rugby World Cup Qualifying Tournament

The 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup is being held in New Zealand (28 August – 14 August) and is the ninth tournament since the inaugural event in 1991. Eight out of the twelve teams have already qualified for the tournament: the top seven from the last tournament (Ireland, 2017) plus the winner of the first of qualification rounds (Africa).

Three of the last four remaining places will be decided by regional qualification tournaments: the Oceania Women’s Rugby Championship (2019); a standalone European qualification tournament; and the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship (2020). The final place will be decided in a Repechage tournament, comprising of the second-placed teams in the Asia, Europe and Oceania regional tournaments and the winner of the play-off between South America and second-placed team from the Africa regional qualifier.

Qualified so far for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup:

1. New Zealand (hosts / holders)
2. England
3. USA
4. France
5. Canada
6. Australia
7. Wales
8. South Africa (winner Rugby Africa tournament, August 2018)

Scotland Women will take part in the European qualifying tournament in September next year, along with Ireland, Italy and the winner of the 2020 Rugby Europe Women’s Championship (Spain are the current champions.) The winner will automatically qualify for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, while the runner-up will have a further opportunity in the Repechage tournament along with the runners-up from the Asia and Oceania regional tournaments and the winner of the play-off between South America and second-placed team from the Africa regional qualifier.

30 Years of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, 1991-2021

The 2021 tournament will be the ninth Women’s Rugby Cup since the inaugural event in 1991. England and New Zealand have dominated the competition, with England reaching the Final in seven of the previous eight tournaments, winning on two occasions (1994, 2014) and New Zealand appearing in five of the last six Finals, and winning all of them. Scotland’s best result was in 1994 when they finished 5th overall, but they have failed to qualify for the last two tournaments.