For Scotland, 2025 produced much of the same frustrations. Great hope extinguished by inconsistent displays and costly missed chances.
Gregor Townsend’s charges beat Italy and Wales comfortably (for the most part) at home in the championship, but against more difficult opposition lost their other three fixtures to finish fourth again – the fifth time they have done so in six seasons.
Ireland travelled to Murrayfield and dominated Scotland yet again, winning 32-18 for an 11th successive Test victory against the Scots, while only the men in blue will know how they failed to beat England at Twickenham in an understandably infuriating 16-15 defeat.
Their campaign finished out by providing eventual title-winners France a challenge in Paris, but not much more as Les Bleus kicked on to win.
In 2026, Scotland host England and France in Edinburgh, however, and avoid Ireland in Dublin until the final weekend. Could this finally be their year?
Here, we take a closer look at how Scotland are shaping up ahead of their opening home match of 2026 against Italy in Rome…
Fixtures
- Italy – Stadio Olimpico – Saturday February 7 – 2.10pm (GMT)
- England – Murrayfield – Saturday February 14 – 4.40pm (GMT)
- Wales – Principality Stadium – Saturday February 21 – 4.40pm (GMT)
- France – Murrayfield – Saturday March 7 – 2.10pm (GMT)
- Ireland – Aviva Stadium – Saturday March 14 – 2.10pm (GMT)
What’s changed?
Having missed the 2025 Six Nations campaign due to a pectoral injury, outstanding centre Sione Tuipulotu returns to captain the side.
There are also recalls to the squad for lock Jonny Gray and hooker Dave Cherry, with both having been left out of Scotland’s disappointing autumn.
Speaking of November, Scotland’s best chance in a long, long time – perhaps ever – to earn a maiden Test victory over New Zealand came and went as they came from 17-0 down to level at 17-17 and then faced an All Blacks side shorn a player for 10 of the final 18 minutes.
Scotland could not score against 14, though, and instead ended up losing the game late on.
Townsend’s side then also managed to suffer defeat from the jaws of victory by remarkably surrendering a 21-0 lead to lose 33-24 to Argentina at home, where the hosts were booed off.
Scotland’s Autumn campaign was one of huge frustration, as they let a big chance to beat New Zealand pass them by before losing to Argentina from 21-0 ahead
Expected heavy wins over the USA and Tonga either side of those losses did little to garner excitement, despite the free-scoring attack involved in 85-0 and 56-0 wins.
A number of Scotland players also experienced a British and Irish Lions tour during the summer, as Andy Farrell’s side claimed a 2-1 series win over Australia.
Loosehead Pierre Schoeman, lock Scott Cummings, scrum-half Ben White, fly-half Finn Russell, centres Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, wing Duhan van der Merwe and full-back Blair Kinghorn were all selected for the tour – each from the get-go bar White, who was an early call-up – while a number of other players were later added to the squad in Australia as cover.
Such representation marked a significant change from Scotland’s Lions relationship of recent times where they barely saw players picked, and that can only have been positive for them.
A number of Scotland players, such as Finn Russell and Blair Kinghorn, earned British and Irish Lions representation in the summer
What’s hot?
Russell has clearly established himself as one of the best playmakers on the planet, and at 33 will view 2026 as the year he must guide Scotland to silverware.
The fly-half started all three Tests for the Lions and excelled in victory against the Wallabies, while he also led Bath to Premiership and Challenge Cup success last season.
Fly-half Russell is one of the best playmakers in the world and will view 2026 as the year to lead Scotland to a trophy
Scotland’s back division is also supremely talented. Russell, Toulouse full-back Kinghorn and Edinburgh wings Van der Merwe and Darcy Graham are fantastic players, each capable of turning Test matches Scotland’s way.
Centres Jones and Tuipulotu shone for the Lions during the summer too, with both finishing the tour as Test Lion try scorers.
Blair Kinghorn is another superb performer for Scotland within their backline
The schedule this year is also a big plus for the Scots.
They begin by facing Italy away, and then host England at home in what could prove a crucial Calcutta Cup as far as the championship is concerned.
Wales in Cardiff follows in Round 3, which at this stage should signal victory such are Wales’ problems, before a home contest against the defending champions France in Round 4 follows a fallow week to recharge.
Scotland conclude their campaign away to bogey side Ireland, but by that stage may still be in the hunt for something whereas the Irish – who appear a side in decline – may have already been ruled out of the running.
Scotland host England and France at Murrayfield in 2026 and avoid bogey side Ireland in Dublin until the final weekend
What’s not?
There is a growing sense in Scottish rugby – particularly after the frustrations of November – that change may be needed at the top for them to take the next step forward.
Townsend has been in charge of Scotland since 2017, and while there is no doubting they are and have been a better side under him than they were before, he has also overseen back-to-back Rugby World Cup pool stage exits in 2019 and 2023, never beaten Ireland, New Zealand or South Africa in a Test, nor guided Scotland to Six Nations glory.
The 52-year-old was very pointedly and publicly asked by Scottish journalists during the Autumn if his position should be in question, and whether he had the appetite to continue in the role. For now, he remains in place.
Gregor Townsend has been in charge of Scotland since 2017 and came under massive pressure in November
In many ways, Scotland’s performance against the All Blacks at Murrayfield in November could and should have become one of their greatest ever days, but they fell flat when opportunity knocked.
That too has become a repeated trend: Scotland showing mental fragility or an inability to strike at the biggest moments in the biggest Tests.
The Achilles heel of Scottish rugby remains their lack of power in the forwards and at the set-piece, though. It is this area of the pitch which continues to leave them behind other sides, and is closely linked to their maddening inconsistency.
Championship record
Six Nations since 2000: None
Overall: 15 titles outright (1887, 1889, 1891, 1895, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1907, 1925, 1929, 1933, 1938, 1984, 1990, 1999)
Scotland’s 40-player squad for the 2026 Six Nations:
Forwards (23): Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh), Gregor Brown (Glasgow), Dave Cherry (Vannes), Scott Cummings (Glasgow), Alex Craig (Glasgow), Rory Darge (Glasgow), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow), Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux Bègles), Nathan McBeth (Glasgow), Liam McConnell (Edinburgh), Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton), D’arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Perpignan), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow), George Turner (Harlequins), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors).
Backs (17): Fergus Burke (Saracens), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Adam Hastings (Glasgow), George Horne ( Glasgow), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Tom Jordan (Bristol), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow), Finn Russell (Bath), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow), Ollie Smith (Glasgow), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow, captain), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (Toulon).