Scotland failed to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time in World Cup history
Scotland Rugby World Cup Fixtures, Squad, Group, Guide
They have taken big steps in the last few seasons, but defeat in their 2019 Rugby World Cup opener against Ireland and in their final pool match against Japan meant they had an early exit from this year’s tournament.
How They Qualified
Scotland were one of the 12 automatic qualifiers for the 2019 tournament.
Key Players
The adventurous style of Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg excites, and look out for Darcy Graham on the wing. In the back row, John Barclay brings experience.
Control: Laidlaw will dictate games, and Hogg will excite in Japan (Getty Images)
The Coach – Gregor Townsend
The former Scotland fly-half is known as an innovator who loves detail. He took over after a successful reign at Glasgow Warriors and has masterminded big wins for Scotland. This is his first World Cup in charge but he was an assistant in 2011.
Debut: This is Townsend’s first World Cup in charge (Getty Images)
Major Work-ons
When Scotland’s continuity-based, rapid style works it shocks teams, but they cannot escape the physical nature of Test rugby. Without any devastating ball-carriers, they need a team effort carrying into contact.
Scotland Rugby World Cup Warm-Ups
- Saturday 17 August 2019: France 32-3 Scotland
- Saturday 24 August 2019: Scotland 17-14 France
- Saturday 31 August 2019: Georgia 10-44 Scotland
- Friday 6 September 2019: Scotland 36-9 Georgia
Related: 2019 Rugby World Cup Warm-ups
Scotland Rugby World Cup Group
Scotland are in Group A alongside Ireland, Japan, Russia and Samoa.
Related: 2019 Rugby World Cup Groups
Scotland Rugby World Cup Kit
Scotland Rugby World Cup Fixtures
- Sun 22 Sep Ireland 27-3 Scotland (Yokohama) Match report
- Mon 30 Sep Scotland 34-0 Samoa (Kobe) Match Report
- Wed 9 Oct Scotland 61-0 Russia (Shizuoka) Match Report
- Sun 13 Oct Japan 28-21 Scotland (Yokohama) Match Report
Ireland Rugby World Cup Fixtures, Squad, Group, Guide
A lot was expected of Ireland, but they…
Japan Rugby World Cup Fixtures, Squad, Group, Guide
Hosting their first World Cup, Japan made history…
Samoa Rugby World Cup Fixtures, Squad, Group, Guide
Having to rely on a play-off win against…
Russia Rugby World Cup Fixtures, Squad, Group, Guide
Russia's qualification for the tournament was a shock…
Crucial: Scotland face Ireland in their first match of the tournament (Getty Images)
Scotland Rugby World Cup Squad
Gregor Townsend has named his 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup:
Forwards (17):
Stuart McInally
Jonny Gray
Ryan Wilson
Fraser Brown
Hamish Watson (replaced by Magnus Bradbury on 23 September after he suffered a knee injury)
Zander Fagerson
Gordon Reid
Simon Berghan
Grant Gilchrist
Duncan Taylor
Allan Dell
WP Nel
George Turner
Ben Toolis
Blade Thomson
Jamie Ritchie
Scott Cummings
Backs (14):
Greig Laidlaw
Stuart Hogg
Tommy Seymour
Finn Russell
Peter Horne
Sean Maitland
Ali Price (replaced by Henry Pyrgos after picking up a foot injury against Ireland).
Darcy Graham
Adam Hastings
Chris Harris
Blair Kinghorn
Sam Johnson
George Horne
Duncan Taylor
Related: 2019 Rugby World Cup Fixtures
Previous World Cup Results and Record
Scotland’s Rugby World Cup Record: P42 W24 D1 L17
- 1987 Quarter-finals
- 1991 Fourth
- 1995 Quarter-finals
- 1999 Quarter-finals
- 2003 Quarter-finals
- 2007 Quarter-finals
- 2011 Pool stages
- 2015 Quarter-finals
- 2019 Pool stages
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