Scotland Women’s Rugby: New Contracts and Strategic Shift Amid Disruption

Scottish Rugby on Monday announced new contracts for the women’s national team and laid out a broader plan for the game’s development in Scotland, including a centralized performance hub and leadership changes. The coming season will see the number of contracted players rise from 32 to 35, with 22 players from the World Cup squad receiving contract renewals. Of those renewals, 17 will continue to receive financial support contracts to play in England or France. A centralized hub will be created at Oriam in Edinburgh, where 18 players will be supported, forming a core structure for the national program. The union said it would not provide a breakdown of which players were under contract or disclose the total investment for the women’s game.

Scottish Rugby’s chief executive, Alex Williamson, described the announcements as part of a transition to a long-term, high-performance environment in Scotland. He said the timetable for contract conversations had been agreed with players and acknowledged that the process had been challenging because negotiations occurred while the World Cup preparations were underway. Williamson stressed that conversations affected different players in different ways and that decisions were taken with the future of the women’s game in mind. He said the organization is in a period of transition and is pursuing a sustainable high-performance system, along with leadership changes that include a new managing director for women’s rugby and a new head of women and girls’ performance pathways.

Jade Konkel, who did not receive a contract, said the squad faced disruption to preparations as contract talks ran in parallel with the World Cup camp. Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm also acknowledged the period had been difficult for players. Konkel said the team had reached the quarter-finals “through no help of the SRU,” and described the last-minute nature of some contract conversations as “not the best prep.” Williamson said the conversations were challenging but necessary, noting that those who received different news were in the same environment with emotions running high. He added that the organization’s decisions aimed to advance the game and build a positive environment for Scotland’s female players.

Performance director David Nucifora defended how Konkel’s situation was handled, saying it was “the best way possible” and that he did not know what the right length of time is to tell someone they are not receiving a contract. Williamson said the contracts are one-year deals and rejected the suggestion that they fail to provide stability. The SRU also confirmed it will recruit a new women’s head coach after Bryan Easson’s departure, with Nucifora noting strong interest and saying the successor should have proven experience in the women’s game, along with the drive to push the sport forward.

On the field, Scotland’s World Cup run ended in the quarter-finals after a loss to England. Francesca McGhie produced a standout performance earlier in the tournament with a hat-trick of tries against Wales, while the team also defeated Fiji in pool play. The federation emphasized that the 2025-26 cycle will focus on developing talent and widening the base of women’s rugby in Scotland, including expanding contracted players and reinforcing the centralised performance model to sustain growth beyond the next World Cup.

The overall plan, according to Williamson, is to deliver a high-performance pathway that aligns with the broader strategy for the women’s game in Scotland. While the SRU would not disclose financial specifics or the exact roster details, it underscored that the new hub, leadership appointments, and the one-year contracts are designed to accelerate player development and improve consistency across the national program. The organization stressed that the initiative is part of a longer-term commitment to women’s rugby in Scotland, with a focus on competitive results and sustained investment across the playing path from junior levels to the national team.