Scottish rugby fans are in for a summer packed with promise and potential, as both the U20 Men’s and Women’s sides prepare to take on international opposition in crucial development fixtures. With fresh faces, returning talent, and emerging leaders in both squads, these tournaments offer a glimpse into the future of Scottish rugby.
Dalgliesh’s U20 Women Embrace Leadership and Continuity
Scotland Women U20 head coach Louise Dalgliesh has named a 30-player squad for the Six Nations Women’s Summer Series in Wales, kicking off this Saturday. A clear emphasis has been placed on building continuity, leadership, and depth across the group, with 23 players having featured in this season’s Celtic Challenge for Edinburgh Rugby or Glasgow Warriors.
Four players will form a leadership group for the campaign: Poppy Fletcher, Nicole Flynn, Merryn Gunderson and Emily Norval. The decision reflects Dalgliesh’s drive to empower players with ownership on and off the field — a move likely to pay dividends in the pressure-cooker environment of international rugby.
There’s a strong sense of development running through the squad. Nine players return from last year’s Summer Series, while 13 have graduated from the Scotland U18s side that competed in last year’s Six Nations Festival. Notably, Scarlett Haddow earns a call-up following standout performances at this year’s U18s tournament.
Dalgliesh said the build-up has been intense, with a training camp, match preparation against Wales, and sessions with the senior squad. “The Summer Series is an opportunity to push this group further as individuals and as a collective,” she said. “We’re excited to see how they rise to the demands of international rugby.”
Fixtures begin against England on July 5, before matches against hosts Wales and Ireland. All games will be streamed live on Six Nations Rugby’s digital channels.
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Murray Makes Six Changes for Must-Win Men’s U20 Clash
Meanwhile, Kenny Murray’s Scotland U20 Men’s side are looking to bounce back from a bruising defeat to England as they prepare to face Australia on Sunday in the World Rugby U20 Championship.
Six changes have been made to the starting lineup. Full-back Jed Findlay will make his debut, while Hector Patterson, who impressed off the bench last time out with a try, earns a starting berth at scrum-half. Exeter Chiefs’ Findlay is joined by debutant Cameron van Wyk on the wing.
In the forwards, Oliver McKenna and Dylan Cockburn are brought in to reinforce the pack, while Freddy Douglas returns from injury and will co-captain the side alongside Johnny Ventisei.
Murray spoke candidly ahead of the match: “We’ve reviewed the England game and know we gave them too many soft tries. The players have recovered well, and the energy has been good. It’s important we rotate but also retain some consistency — and we’ll need to be at our best for the full 80 against Australia.”
The match will be broadcast live on RugbyPassTV from Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana.
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A Glimpse Into Scotland’s Rugby Future
With both teams combining emerging talent and seasoned U20 internationals, this summer represents a key checkpoint in Scotland’s player development pathway. As Dalgliesh and Murray look to sharpen their squads against top-tier opposition, the performances over the coming weeks will offer crucial insight into who’s ready to make the next step — and who might soon be knocking on the door of the senior squads.
For fans, it’s a rare chance to see Scotland’s next generation tested under the glare of international competition. And if recent graduates like Molly Poolman, Lucia Scott, and Reuben Logan are anything to go by, there’s every reason to be optimistic.
