Scotland interim coach Butcher in talks over permanent role despite seven-game losing run

Dave Butcher has confirmed that discussions with Scottish Rugby about appointing him as permanent head coach have begun, even as Scotland head to Australia on the back of seven consecutive defeats across all competitions.

The interim boss took charge following the departure of Sione Fukofuka and senior assistant Ioan Cunningham earlier this year, a period that players and staff have described as damaging to the squad’s culture and identity. Scotland’s most recent outing ended in a 30-10 loss to Australia in Edinburgh on 26 September — a result that stung all the more given the Scots had led 10-5 at half-time.

Butcher’s side now face the Wallaroos twice more, on 17 and 23 October, looking to salvage something from a WXV Global Series campaign that has yielded three defeats from three. Despite the results, Butcher insists the squad is moving in the right direction.

“When I took over as interim head coach there were some immediate pieces we needed to work on,” Butcher said on Tuesday. “The environment was a big one and Rachel [Malcolm, the captain], the senior leadership group and the assistant coaches who have come in have all been a massive part of changing things.”

On the prospect of a permanent appointment, Butcher was measured but candid. “We’ve had conversations about it, but the priority is the next two games,” he said. “After WXV, that’s when we can look at that in a little bit more detail.”

The players’ response to Butcher has been notably warm, with several going on record in support of him, and the squad is said to be craving stability ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2029 after a turbulent year of coaching changes.

“I think the players’ focus should be on every match and my focus has to be on the bigger picture,” Butcher added. “My job now is to develop our playing style and identity to allow us then to get outcomes. That might happen in the next two games or it might happen when we go into the Six Nations early next year, but we’ve got a very clear picture.”

Butcher acknowledged the emotional weight of the Scotland shirt, noting that wearing the thistle should inspire an unconditional will to win — a standard he believes the squad is beginning to rediscover after a difficult few months.