Rating every Scotland player from the 2025 Six Nations: Star back ‘steals the show’ and locks in Lions spot
Scotland stars Blair Kinghorn, Finn Russell and Jamie Ritchie.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 Six Nations, we rate every player’s performance from across the Championship. Next up, it’s Gregor Townsend’s Scotland.
Outside backs
Blair Kinghorn: The Toulouse star was easily Scotland’s best player of the championship as he stole the show with several outstanding performances which makes him a certainty for the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. Brilliant on attack and solid on defence, Kinghorn was particularly influential with ball in hand and his superb form was rewarded with a Six Nations Player of the Championship nomination. 9
Darcy Graham: The Edinburgh excitement machine missed the clash against England due to a concussion, after a horrible clash of heads with Finn Russell against Ireland, but came back strongly in the last two Tests against Wales and France and scored tries in both. 7
Duhan van der Merwe: As usual, the behemoth speedster crossed for a try against England after a fine attacking display and he proved difficult to stop in all his other matches. He also crossed for a try against Ireland but apart from his attacking prowess, he was quiet in other areas. 7
Kyle Rowe: The 27-year-old made three appearances in the championship with his only start coming against England, when he replaced Graham, but he made little impact with ball in hand. 5
Centres
Huw Jones: The Glasgow Warriors star made a fantastic start to the tournament when he scored a hat-trick of tries against Italy and eventually finished as Scotland’ top try-scorer (4) after also dotting down against England. Started all five matches and also did well on defence. 8
Tom Jordan: Another Glasgow star, who started on the replacements bench against Italy in Scotland’s tournament opener but was promoted to the starting XV for the next match against Scotland. He continued as the starting inside centre for all the remaining games where he impressed with his attacking skills and scored a brace of tries against Wales. 8
Stafford McDowall: He lost his place in the run-on side to Jordan after the clash with the Azzurri and had to be satisfied with cameos off the bench for the rest of the competition. Saw action in all five matches and was solid throughout. 6
Half-backs
Finn Russell: The team’s chief playmaker and co-captain was the starting fly-half in all five Tests and remains a vital cog in the Scottish machine. Russell was forced off early against Ireland due to concussion and delivered a poor goal-kicking display against England which cost his team that match but was influential on attack throughout. 7
Ben White: The Toulon stalwart is firmly entrenched as Scotland’s first choice number nine and started all five Tests. Impressed with his decision making and distribution skills while he also did well on attack, scoring three tries. 8
George Horne: He only saw action in two matches – the victories over Italy and Wales – and did what was expected of him without setting the world alight. 5
Jamie Dobie: He played off the bench in all the games he was involved in against Ireland, England and France with his first appearance against the defending champions coming on the wing when he replaced the injured Graham. His introduction in all of those games did not produce the necessary spark needed. 4
Back-row
Matt Fagerson: The younger of the Ferguson brothers was involved in all five Tests interchanging between number eight and the blindside flank with two starts made at the base of the scrum and one on the side while his remaining games were played off the bench. He did not let the side down and was solid throughout. 6
Rory Darge: Scotland’s co-captain delivered solid performances in all five matches and he caught the eye with his work at the breakdowns and on defence where he finished with the ninth most tackles (58) in the competition. Less effective as a ball carrier. 7
Jamie Ritchie: After starting against Italy, Scotland’s former captain was dropped to the bench for the Ireland clash but he was soon back in the run-on side for the remaining matches and was arguably the team’s best forward in the competition. Ritchie was particularly effective at the breakdowns where he won a tournament-high seven steals. 8
Jack Dempsey: The former Wallaby was on the bench for the opener against Italy and missed the last game against France due to injury but started at number eight in the three remaining Tests. He was solid as a ball carrier but less prominent in other areas. 6
Ben Muncaster: The Edinburgh man saw just 14 minutes of action when he replaced Darge during the latter stages against France but his contribution to the Scotland cause was minimal. 4
Locks
Jonny Gray: The veteran second-row started Scotland’s first four matches and did what was expected of him in the lineouts but was less visible in other facets of play. 5
Grant Gilchrist: Showed his experience throughout the campaign as he started in all of the Tests and was a valuable source of possession in the lineouts, winning 19 balls which was the sixth highest in the Six Nations. Was kept in check as a ball carrier against England and Ireland but shone in that department against Wales. 6
Gregor Brown: The 23-year-old was the back-up to his experienced counterparts Gray and Gilchrist in the first four matches but came into the run-on side for the last game against France. He did what was expected of him with his lineout work one of the standout features. 6
Sam Skinner: The experienced lock came onto the bench as the extra forward on a 6/2 bench split for the matches against Ireland and England but he made little impact once he entered the fray. 4
Marshall Sykes: Not much to report here as the 25-year-old only played in the final match of the Six Nations against France, but was largely anonymous during the last 22 minutes of that clash after replacing Brown. 4
Ewan Johnson: The rookie second-row made his only appearance of the championship in the closing stages against France. Johnson replaced Gilchrist but made little impact during his short stint on the field. 4
Front-row
Pierre Schoeman: The South African-born loosehead prop was a regular in the matchday squad, starting four Tests and made one appearance off the bench. Did what was expected of him in the scrums and impressed with ball in hand, finishing with 51 carries which was joint seventh highest for the championship. 6
Zander Fagerson: The 29-year-old was in the starting line-up for all of Scotland’s matches and was at the forefront of their forward onslaught. Fagerson stood up well in the scrums, put his body on the line in defence and made his biggest contribution as a ball carrier with 57 carries which was more than any other Scotland player and fourth highest in the competition. 7
Rory Sutherland: The 2021 British and Irish Lion started the second Test against Ireland, lasting 48 minutes and came off the bench for the other matches – against Italy, Wales and France – but his introduction did not bring the necessary energy in those fixtures. 5
Will Hurd: He made four appearances off the bench as Fagerson’s replacement but could not maintain the high standard set by Scotland’s first choice tighthead prop. Hurd was also on the bench against France but did not see any action.4
Jamie Bhatti: The 31-year-old came on as a replacement against England but did not bring much to the party in a narrow defeat for Townsend‘s troops. 4
Dave Cherry: The veteran hooker was a surprise choice to start the tournament, after last representing his country at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Cherry was solid but unspectacular throughout and eventually started all Scotland’s matches. 6
Ewan Ashman: The 25-year-old came off the bench to replace Cherry in all five matches but, if truth be told, his introduction seldom had the desired effect. Had some issues with his lineout throw-ins especially against England and he also conceded some crucial penalties in that clash. 5
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