This achievement follows their commanding 59-10 victory over Fiji on the weekend, which served as a perfect lead-in to their upcoming WXV 2 fixtures. The Scots have been on a steady upward trajectory, building on their notable campaigns in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations - where they recorded a first Test win in Cardiff since 2004 - and last year's WXV 3 title win.
The decisive win over Fiji not only secured their historic ranking but also highlighted the team's growth - they were ranked outside of the top 10 at one point in 2023 - under head coach Bryan Easson. Assistant coach Matt Banahan, the former England and Bath winger, spoke to us recently about Easson's qualities: “Bryan’s the heartbeat of it all. The hard work he’s done off the pitch, putting in the team around him, he’s brilliant. The girls realise how good he has been for them.”
This significant boost in ranking reflects a broader trend of consistent improvement, and Scotland now head into WXV 2 in South Africa full of confidence with upcoming fixtures against Italy, Japan and Australia.
The recently announced 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations fixtures sees Scotland host Wales first up on 22nd March, and closes with a Super Saturday clash against Ireland on 26th April.
