McDowall to captain Scotland against the Maori All Blacks

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Scotland's Stafford McDowall during The Famous Grouse Nations Series match between Scotland and Portugal at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, on November 16, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

McDowall has previous experience of leading his country after being selected to take on the role for the victory over Portugal last November.

He will be assisted with his leadership by vice-captains George Horne, at scrum-half, and Josh Bayliss, who starts in the back row after lifting the Premiership with Bath.

Harry Paterson experienced a frustrating summer tour last year after being ruled out of two of the games through injury, but he will don the Scotland jersey for the first time since the Uruguay match last year. He is named on the wing with Arron Reed on the opposite flank.

In the centres, McDowall is paired with Northampton Saints’ Rory Hutchinson, who has joined the squad following the injury to Matt Currie.

Ollie Smith who will play for Scotland for the first time since the Rugby World Cup match against Ireland in 2023 and starts at full-back.

Glasgow Warriors duo Adam Hastings and Horne form the half-back partnership.
Nathan McBeth and Patrick Harrison both made their debuts on last year’s summer tour and they will pack down with Fin Richardson in the front row.

Glasgow Warriors prop Richardson travelled to Chile and Uruguay last year and he will wear the Scotland jersey for the first time in what is a non-capped match.

Fresh from playing in Leicester’s narrow loss to Bath in the Premiership final, Cameron Henderson has been selected, making his first appearance for Scotland since his debut, against Italy in 2023.

In the back row, alongside Josh Bayliss, Ben Muncaster and Andy Onyeama-Christie are selected, the selection marking Onyeama-Christie’s first match for Scotland since the 2024 Guinness Six Nations.

In the replacements, hooker George Turner marks his return to the Scotland squad with selection, along with Alec Hepburn who will play for the first time since 2024 when he made four appearances in the Guinness Six Nations. Will Hurd also offers a propping option from the bench.

Max Williamson and Gregor Brown made their debuts against Canada on last year’s summer tour and both are selected in the 23 and second and back-row substitutes.

It will be a special day for back-row Alexander Masibaka and stand-off Fergus Burke, the pair named with back Jamie Dobie to complete a 6-2 split on the bench.

Scotland team to face Māori All Blacks at the Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei on Saturday 5 July 2025. Kick-off 3.35pm (local time) (Saturday 5 July, kick-off 4.35am UK time) Live on Sky Sports (caps in brackets):

15. Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors (9)
14. Harry Paterson – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
13. Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints (8)
12. Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors – CAPTAIN (13)
11. Arron Reed – Sale Sharks (3)
10. Adam Hastings – Glasgow Warriors (32)
9. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors – VICE CAPTAIN (36)
1. Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (2)
2. Patrick Harrison – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
3. Fin Richardson – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
4. Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
5. Cameron Henderson – Leicester Tigers (1)
6. Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby – VICE-CAPTAIN (10)
7. Andy Onyeama-Christie – Saracens (8)
8. Ben Muncaster – Edinburgh Rugby (2)

Replacements

16. George Turner – Harlequins (45)
17. Alec Hepburn – Scarlets (4)
18. Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (8)
19. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (6)
20. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (9)
21. Alexander Masibaka – Montpellier (uncapped)
22. Fergus Burke – Saracens (uncapped)
23. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (12)