McDowall to lead Scotland against Fiji

Stafford McDowall will captain a Scotland side showing 14 changes as they round off the first block of 2026 Nations Championship games with a match against Fiji this Saturday at Scottish Gas Murrayfield – kick-off 2:10pm, live on ITV.

The centre is joined in the midfield by Ollie Smith, who will wear a unique jersey commemorating the passing of Scott Hastings, for a fixture that for competition purposes is a Fiji ‘home’ game.

The two leading male try scorers in the country’s history come into Scotland’s starting XV, with Darcy Graham (38 tries) and Duhan van der Merwe (35) set for their first involvement of the series.

Fergus Burke, who came off the bench two weeks ago in Argentina, lines up at stand-off with George Horne, another replacement in that seven-try win in Cordoba, starting at scrum-half.

In the pack, Rory Sutherland, who won a 50th cap for his country against South Africa last weekend, is selected at loosehead prop with Gregor Hiddleston primed for a first international start at hooker, and D’arcy Rae named at tighthead.
Jonny Gray will win an 83rd Scotland cap and is joined in the second row by Max Williamson.

Josh Bayliss, a try scorer against the Springboks last time out and vice-captain for Saturday, is named at blindside flanker, with Freddy Douglas picked for a first Scotland start on the openside. Gregor Brown, listed at number 8, switches from the second row and is the sole surviving starting player from last weekend’s game in Pretoria.

A 6:2 split on the bench sees Seb Stephen poised to become Scotland cap 1240, should the hooker be called upon. There is experience aplenty by way of props Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson, with Scott Cummings and Magnus Bradbury offering ballast to cover the loose five forwards. Liam McConnell, who debuted against USA in November, makes up the pack substitutes, with Jamie Dobie and Sione Tuipulotu completing the matchday 23.

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Scotland team to face Fiji on Saturday 18 July, kick-off 2:10pm at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in the 2026 Nations Championship, live on ITV (caps in brackets):

15. Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (19)
14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (56)
13. Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors – Vice-captain (12)
12. Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors – Captain (17)
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (53)
10. Fergus Burke – Saracens – (4)
9. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors – Vice-Captain (46)

1. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (50)
2. Gregor Hiddleston – Glasgow Warriors (2)
3. D’arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (7)
4. Jonny Gray – USA Perpignan (82)
5. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (14)
6. Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby – Vice-Captain (17)
7. Freddy Douglas – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
8. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (18)

Replacements

16. Seb Stephen – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
17. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (51)
18. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (83)
19. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (51)
20. Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby (23)
21. Liam McConnell – Edinburgh Rugby (1)
22. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (21)
23. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors (40)