Scottish Rugby has announced the appointment of Sione Fukofuka as the new head coach of the Scotland women’s rugby team, following the departure of Bryan Easson. Fukofuka, an experienced coach with an extensive background in women’s international rugby, is set to lead Scotland as they prepare for the 2026 Women’s Six Nations and beyond.

Fukofuka’s Coaching Background

The Australian coach was most recently in charge of the United States women’s rugby team, narrowly missing out on advancing to the Women’s Rugby World Cup knockout stages. Prior to that, Fukofuka served as assistant coach for Australia women and attack coach for the Queensland Reds women, building a reputation for tactical acumen and player development.

“An aligned domestic pathway and emphasis on the increasing professionalism of the senior programme through the Celtic Challenge and the senior Scotland Women team is exciting,” Fukofuka said. “I look forward to connecting with the talented players, quality staff and invested stakeholders across the program to drive a high-performance environment that develops the players to their potential and produces a style of rugby that can be successful.”

Scotland Women’s Upcoming Fixtures

Scotland women’s squad will open their 2026 Women’s Six Nations campaign away to Wales on 11 April, followed by Italy (25 April) and Ireland (17 May) on the road. Home fixtures include matches against holders England (18 April) and France (9 May).

In the 2025 championship, the Scots won two of their five tests, highlighting the need for renewed strategy and leadership to compete against Europe’s top teams.

Strategic Vision for Scotland Women

Fukofuka’s appointment is part of Scottish Rugby’s broader strategy to strengthen women’s rugby pathways and enhance the professionalism of the senior programme. The coaching change coincides with the start of Andy Rhys Jones as head of women’s performance and pathways, creating a “highly talented leadership group” for the first time in the history of the Scottish women’s game.

Chief executive Alex Williamson emphasized:

“Sione brings many years of experience within women’s international rugby and we want to build the strongest possible coaching setup to take us forward at this crucial time.”

Director of performance David Nucifora added that Fukofuka is joining the team at a pivotal moment, while managing director of women’s rugby Gemma Fay described the appointment as key to advancing the Scotland women’s national team to the next stage of development.

Logistics and Next Steps

Scottish Rugby confirmed that Fukofuka’s appointment is subject to visa approval, and he will be based in Edinburgh. His arrival marks a renewed focus on high-performance coaching, talent development, and preparing the national team to compete successfully on the international stage.