Burke to make Scotland debut against Fiji
10 Jul 2025Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke will win his first Scotland cap on Saturday, in Suva, fresh from being involved in the win over the Maori All Blacks last weekend.
Qualifying for Scotland through his Edinburgh-born grandfather, Burke was first called up earlier this year for the Guinness Six Nations and will become Scotland Men cap number 1235.
Rory Darge will captain the side for the first time on the tour with Kyle Steyn and Grant Gilchrist named as vice-captains.
Darcy Graham starts on the wing to complement Steyn, with Kyle Rowe at full-back.
In the centres, Cameron Redpath will play his first game since winning the English Premiership with Bath, and forms a new-look partnership with Tom Jordan.
Jamie Dobie is named at scrum-half to link up with Burke on debut.
In the forwards, loosehead prop Rory Sutherland packs down with hooker Ewan Ashman and Elliot Millar Mills at tighthead.
Fresh from starting the win over the Maori All Blacks, Marshall Sykes starts alongside the experienced Gilchrist in the second row.
Matt Fagerson, selected at No 8, will make his first appearance since April after recovering well from an ankle injury, and he will be joined in the back row by Darge and Jamie Ritchie, who takes the blindside flanker berth.
Hooker George Turner starts on the bench following his return to a Scotland jersey last weekend, and is in line for a first Test cap since Italy in March of last year.
Props Alec Hepburn and Will Hurd, and second row Max Williamson retain their places on the bench from last time out, along with vice-captains from last weekend, Josh Bayliss and George Horne.
Adam Hastings and Ollie Smith make up the remainder of the replacement options.
Fiji v Scotland – HFC Bank Stadium, Suva Saturday 12 July 2025, kick-off 3pm (local time, Saturday 12 July 2025, kick-off 4am BST). Live on Premier Sports. (Caps in brackets)
15. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (12)
14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (46)
13. Cameron Redpath – Bath Rugby (14)
12. Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (8)
11. Kyle Steyn – VICE-CAPTAIN – Glasgow Warriors (23)
10. Fergus Burke – Saracens (uncapped)
9. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (12)
1. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (41)
2. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (27)
3. Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints (7)
4. Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
5. Grant Gilchrist – VICE-CAPTAIN – Edinburgh Rugby (80)
6. Jamie Ritchie – Perpignan (60)
7. Rory Darge – CAPTAIN – Glasgow Warriors (30)
8. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (55)
Replacements
16. George Turner – Harlequins (45)
17. Alec Hepburn – Scarlets (4)
18. Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (8)
19. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (6)
20. Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (10)
21. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (36)
22. Adam Hastings – Glasgow Warriors (32)
23. Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors (9)
