The Breakdown – Back Rows: Scavengers and Enforcers

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Scotland's Jack Dempsey celebrates scoring the opening try of the match during a Quilter Nations Series match between Scotland and Argentina at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, on November 16, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

So far, we’ve covered the Front Row and the Second Row. Now, focus shifts to one of the most athletic and versatile unit in the team and the last of Forwards that make up the scrum, it’s the Back Row.

Find out all about these ball-winners and which players make up Scotland’s back row at this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations.

What is the Back Row?

The back row consists of three players: two flankers ,the blindside No. 6 and the openside No. 7, and the Number 8. These players act as the vital bridge between the raw power of the forwards and the lightning speed of the backs. Because they must support both the attack and the defence in equal measures, they usually cover more ground than almost anyone else on the team.

The tactical purpose of the back row is built on disruption and transition. The blindside flanker is typically a physical enforcer, tasked with making heavy hits and securing the blind side of the scrum, the side away from where the ball was rolled in.

The openside flanker is the specialist scavenger, a breakdown expert whose primary goal is to hunt for turnovers and slow down the opposition’s ball.

Finally, the Number 8 provides the explosive power from the base of the scrum, acting as a primary ball carrier and a defensive anchor in the middle of the pitch.

These players are the experts at jackaling, that being the art stealing the ball from a tackled player before the opposition can react. In the modern game, the back row is incredibly diverse. By making tackles and battling the ensuing ruck, games are often won or lost based on these players’ ability to win at the breakdown.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 16: Scotland’s Matt Fagerson (centre) and Argentina’s Santiago Grondona in action during a Quilter Nations Series match between Scotland and Argentina at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, on November 16, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)?

The Scottish Contingent

Scotland enters the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations with a back-row stable that is as competitive as it is deep. The group features a wealth of international experience, including the relentless work rate of Jamie Ritchie, who has transitioned seamlessly into French rugby with Perpignan, and the explosive carrying of Jack Dempsey and Matt Fagerson. Rory Darge also remains a central figure in this unit; his performance in last year’s tournament was impressive, as he led all players in attacking ruck arrivals -meaning he was the fastest man on the pitch to get to the ball and protect it.

What makes the current squad particularly exciting is the emergence of a new generation of Scottish talent. Freddy Douglas and Liam McConnell have both earned their places on merit following excellent domestic and European form. Douglas has been a revelation in the Investec Champions Cup, securing more turnovers (12), than anybody else. Meanwhile, McConnell is named in the squad off the back of winning Edinburgh Rugby’s Scottish Building Society Player of the Month. You can read more on these two young stars in a full-length feature here: ‘The Next Generation of Scottish Stars’

With the aerial prowess of Josh Bayliss and the physical leadership of Edinburgh captain Magnus Bradbury also in the mix, Scotland possess a back-row unit capable of adapting to any style of play from a defensive grind to a high-paced attacking shootout.

Join us next time on The Breakdown as we meet the Half-backs, the tactical minds who pull the strings and decide exactly when to unleash the speed of the backline.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 01: Scotland’s Liam McConnell offloads to Duhan van der Merwe for a first half try during a Quilter Nations Series match between Scotland and the USA at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, on November 01, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group)

The Scotland Back-Row:

• Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (14)
• Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby (21)
• Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (12)
• Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors (34)
• Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (29)
• Freddy Douglas – Edinburgh Rugby (1)
• Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (59)
• Liam McConnell – Edinburgh Rugby (1)
• Jamie Ritchie – Perpignan (61)