Scottish Rugby Stars Face Crucial Weekend Across Europe

Scottish rugby is gearing up for a blockbuster weekend, with both men’s and women’s teams poised for pivotal clashes across European and Celtic Challenge competitions. With national selection and club pride on the line, every fixture is set to provide drama, opportunity, and a showcase of Scotland’s rising rugby talent. From Bath to Belfast, Edinburgh to Glasgow, the stakes could hardly be higher.

On the men’s side, Edinburgh Rugby faces a defining Investec Champions Cup Pool 2 matchup against Bath Rugby at The Rec on Friday, January 16, 2026, with kick-off at 8:00pm, broadcast live on Premier Sports. Victory would catapult the capital side to the top of the pool, giving them control over their path to the knockout stages. For Scottish rugby fans, it’s a match that carries both club and national significance, as a slew of senior internationals take center stage.

Edinburgh’s backline is a statement of Scottish identity and intent. The electric Darcy Graham, a British & Irish Lion, starts on the wing, while Harry Paterson makes a timely return from injury at full-back, eager to recapture peak form. The half-back pairing sees Ben Vellacott, captaining the side from scrum-half, link up with Ross Thompson in an all-Scottish duo tasked with dictating tempo and territory against a formidable Bath outfit. James Lang holds the fort at inside-centre, bringing defensive steel and physicality to the midfield.

Up front, Ewan Ashman starts at hooker, coming off a try-scoring performance last weekend as he builds momentum after injury. The second row features Callum Hunter-Hill and Glen Young, a partnership that promises lineout stability and grit. The back-row is a showcase of Scotland’s growing depth: Ben Muncaster starts at number eight, joined by Tom Dodd at blindside and the rapidly emerging Freddy Douglas at openside. Douglas, only 20, is fresh off a remarkable defensive display against Gloucester, where he won five turnovers and was named Investec Player of the Match.

With established stars like Magnus Bradbury, Liam McConnell, and Pierre Schoeman rested, this fixture offers a valuable glimpse into Scotland’s wider depth chart. Ben Healy, another Scottish international, provides firepower from the bench. As the national coaches look on, these high-stakes European contests are exactly the crucible where Test-match readiness is forged.

Attention shifts to Scotstoun on Sunday evening, January 18, as Glasgow Warriors host Saracens in a titanic Investec Champions Cup Pool One encounter at 5:30pm, also live on Premier Sports. With a perfect record—15 points from 15—Glasgow need a win over the three-time European champions to guarantee top spot in their group. The match is brimming with Test experience and leadership, ensuring a fierce contest from the opening whistle.

Zander Fagerson anchors the front row, continuing his impressive European campaign alongside Gregor Hiddleston and Patrick Schickerling. Scott Cummings and Alex Craig bring physicality and lineout prowess in the second row. The back-row is a blend of power and mobility, with Rory Darge returning to join Matt Fagerson—Glasgow’s top tackler in the competition—and Jack Dempsey. Scrum-half George Horne marks a milestone 150th appearance, partnering Dan Lancaster at half-back. Midfield dynamism comes from Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, both British & Irish Lions, while captain Kyle Steyn, fresh from a Player of the Match performance, leads the back three with Kyle Rowe and Ollie Smith.

Off the bench, Scotland internationals Rory Sutherland, Gregor Brown, and Stafford McDowall add further experience. For the Warriors, it’s a golden chance to close out the pool stage in style and sharpen their international edge against elite opposition.

The women’s game is no less compelling, with both Edinburgh Rugby Women and Glasgow Warriors Women in action for the 2025/26 Celtic Challenge. These fixtures are more than just club matches—they’re crucial steps in Scotland’s performance pathway, providing regular, meaningful competition for current internationals and those pushing for a national call-up.

Edinburgh Rugby Women travel to Wales to face Gwalia Lightning at Ystrad Mynach on Saturday, January 17, 2026, with a 1:00pm kick-off, broadcast live on BBC Wales. Head coach Claire Cruikshank has made four changes for this round four clash, most notably handing Kay Lusby her capital debut at No 8. Catriona Moody and Alison Wilson are promoted from the bench to start at blindside flanker and loosehead prop, respectively, while Lucy MacRae slots in at inside-centre for her second start of the season. Niamh Waters could also make her debut from the bench.

“Gwalia have made a red-hot start to the season, so we’ll need to be at our best for the challenge that awaits in Wales,” Cruikshank said. “Last week’s result didn’t go our way, but we have a lot to be proud of from that performance, and a lot that we can build on going into this match.”

The back-three remains unchanged, with Nicole Marlow at full-back, flanked by wing duo Cieron Bell and captain Hannah Walker. Rachel Philipps shifts to outside centre, while the half-back pairing of Emily Love and Hannah Ramsay continues. The front row features Alison Wilson, Aila Ronald at hooker, and Molly Poolman at tighthead, with locks Natasha Logan and Adelle Ferrie providing continuity. The back-row is completed by Lusby, Moody, and Alex Stewart, who has made the capital seven jersey her own.

Meanwhile, Glasgow Warriors Women head to Belfast to face Clovers at Affidea Stadium on Sunday, January 18, at 3:00pm. Winger Hannah Smyth returns to the starting lineup, and there’s the potential for a club debut from the bench for Hannah Dunnett of Hillhead Jordanhill. The pack remains consistent, with Megan Hyland at hooker, Aicha Sutcliffe and Imogen Spence in the second row, and a back-row trio of Gemma Thomson, Gemma Bell, and Emily Coubrough bringing energy and breakdown threat. In the backs, Rianna Darroch and Ceitidh Ainsworth continue their half-back partnership, while Briar McNamara and Nicole Flynn combine in midfield. The back three of Poppy Mellanby, Smyth, and Sky Phimister offers pace and attacking intent.

Glasgow head coach Lindsey Smith commented, “We’ve opted for consistency in selection this week, giving another chance for this group to show their character and build on the work we’ve been putting in at training. We know Clovers will bring intensity and commitment, but we believe in our preparation and the way this squad has responded to challenges posed across the competition so far. It’s across the full 80 minutes that we’ll need to be sharp and take our opportunities when they come.”

This weekend, the common theme across all fixtures is opportunity—opportunity for established internationals to sharpen their edge, for emerging talents to stake their claim, and for Scotland’s rugby pathway to demonstrate its growing depth. With European knockout pressure mounting and Celtic Challenge intensity rising, Scottish rugby fans have plenty to cheer for as a new generation steps up to the plate.

As the dust settles after this action-packed weekend, coaches and supporters alike will be watching closely—not just for club results, but for the signs of progress and promise that could shape Scotland’s fortunes on the international stage in the months to come.