Behind the Curtain: Launching the 2026/27 Kit

The launch campaign stepped into the historic, atmospheric surroundings of Leith Theatre to place Scotland’s players, and a very familiar face, on a truly global stage. Get your kit now.

Sharing the spotlight

The theme of the campaign, “Ready For The Global Stage,” takes on a literal meaning this season as the Men’s team prepares for the inaugural Nations Championship and the Women’s squad gears up for the Global WXV Series. To emphasise this crossover between Scottish heritage and global appeal, the shoot featured a special guest.

Acclaimed Scottish actor and devoted rugby supporter, Sam Heughan joined the players on set. Wearing the new home jersey, Heughan’s involvement highlighted the passion and the scale of our game. The resulting imagery captures a shared pride, showing that whether you are performing on a screen, a theatre stage, or the turf at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, representing Scotland is a collective honour.

The venue

The decision to shoot at Leith Theatre, which first opened its doors in 1932, was deliberate. The building is a living piece of Edinburgh and Scotland’s cultural history. The building has survived wartime bomb damage, hosted iconic rock acts like AC/DC, and weathered periods of closure before reviving its space. Its classical, raw aesthetic offered a texture and character that a modern set simply could not replicate.

The main auditorium served as the dramatic backdrop for the hero photography, but the crew utilised the entire venue to build a narrative. Players moved between the velvet-curtained cloakrooms, the vintage ticket booth, and the moody foyer area. The grandeur of the Leith Theatre performance space reflects the drama of the pitch on the world stage. In the 2026/27 season, Scotland will compete on rugby’s greatest stages against some of the best teams in the world.

The backdrop

The initial creative spark for the campaign began with the idea of classic, painted Scottish landscapes that echoed the tones of nature and the subtle antler detailing woven into the kit’s trim. This led the design team directly into the archives of Scottish theatre history.

Through a partnership with The National Theatre of Scotland, the production secured a monumental piece of stage history: a real theatre backdrop originally created by designer Graham McLaren for the seminal play The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil. The backdrop features a rendering of Sir Edward Landseer’s iconic 1851 painting, The Monarch of the Glen. Hanging this historic canvas inside the frame of Leith Theatre to capture some of the game’s best in the new kit created a powerful visual that blends nineteenth-century romanticism with modern, elite rugby.

Get your kit now.

The new home kit is officially available to supporters starting today at the Official Scottish Rugby Stores on Queen Street in Glasgow and at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in Edinburgh, as well as online. It represents a perfect balance for fans who want a classic, respectful look that still tells a unique story about the land they call home.

Get your kit now.