Scotland’s Women’s Rugby World Cup | Review

The results

• vs Wales: Francesca McGhie scored a sensational hat-trick as Scotland produced a commanding performance to defeat Wales and get their 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup off to the best possible start. A six-try showing – Scotland’s first victory in the competition since 2010 – was built on a foundation of indefatigable defence and devastating finishing as their Pool B opener played out in spectacular fashion.
• vs Fiji: Scotland progressed to the quarter finals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup for the first time since 2002, as braces from Francesca McGhie and Rhona Lloyd, plus an Emma Orr score saw them clinch a 29-15 victory over Fiji in their second Pool B match. Consecutive wins at the Salford Community Stadium saw Bryan Easson’s side secure maximum points.
• vs Canada: Scotland pushed table-topping Canada hard in the final Pool B match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, in the end coming up short in a 40-19 scoreline. Canada scored six tries to Scotland’s three, in a performance underpinned by huge efforts from captain Rachel Malcolm, Evie Gallagher, and Sarah Bonar who, on her 50th cap, led Scotland out of the tunnel.
• vs England: Scotland’s journey at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup came to an end at the hands of a physically dominant England (40-8) in their quarter-final showdown at a soggy Ashton Gate in Bristol. Despite the loss, it was their narrowest losing margin against the Red Roses since 2015.

The tournament in stats

The squad broke new ground by reaching their first Rugby World Cup quarter-final since 2002, cementing their place among the world’s elite. Along the way, they produced numbers to be proud of:

• 676 tackles
• 15 tries
• 16 offloads
• 29 clean breaks
• 94 points in total

Record crowds

Scotland played in front of record crowds across the tournament, with fans traveling in their hundreds and thousands! Across the four matches, Scotland have played in front of over 40,000 spectators.

Demand for tickets to Scotland Women’s historic game against the Red Roses at Scottish Gas Murrayfield next April has surged during the Women’s Rugby World Cup and now sits at over 10,000.

Fran-tastic stuff!

Winger Francesca McGhie certainly captured the hearts of rugby fans across the globe. She tore through defences with 34 runs, 10 clean breaks, and six tries, finishing as Scotland’s top points scorer with 30 points. Her finishing prowess made her one of the standout players of the campaign.

The back-row alliance

Scotland’s resilience was underpinned by a ferocious tackling unit. The back row trio of Evie Gallagher (73 tackles), captain Rachel Malcolm (63), and Rachel McLachlan (52) stood tall, with their physically throughout the campaign.

Milestones and fond farewells

No fewer than 13 players – including Anne Young, Rhea Clarke, Adelle Ferrie, Beth Blacklock, Leia Brebner-Holden, Francesca McGhie, Lisa Cockburn, Evie Gallagher, Eva Donaldson, Elis Martin, Alex Stewart, Molly Poolman, and Evie Wills – earned their first taste of Rugby World Cup action.

Sarah Bonar also etched her name into the history books, earning her 50^th cap against Canada.

Rachel Malcolm became a record-breaker, captaining Scotland on the most occasions, when she led the team for a 53^rd time against England.

Lisa Cockburn, Jade Konkel and Caity Mattinson announced their retirement from international rugby. Cockburn built her reputation as a versatile front-rower, capable of playing on both sides of the scrum for Scotland and earning 37 caps for her country. Konkel, the dynamic number 8 – who has epitomised adaptability by stepping into the second row and even the front row when her team needed her – earned 74 caps for Scotland. Caity Mattinson moves on to take up a full-time coaching roll with Banbury RFC.