McMillan retires from international rugby five months after Scotland recall

Louise McMillan has announced her retirement from international rugby five months after her return to the Scotland set-up.

Across a decade long Test career McMillan earned 61 caps, but missed out on a year of international rugby after she was dropped from the Scotland squad ahead of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 by then-head coach Bryan Easson.

Performances for JAECOO Premiership Women’s Rugby club Saracens, with whom she will continue playing domestic rugby for, earned McMillan a recall and three final caps for her country at this year’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations. Her final cap came in Scotland’s 54-5 loss to Ireland at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

“I’ve made the decision to step away from playing international rugby, and I have played my last game for Scotland [even though I feel way to young to retire from anything],” McMillan said on Instagram.

“To play for this team you have to give absolute[ly] 100 per cent of yourself, and if I’m honest, I just don’t have that to give anymore.

“Coming back after a year of being dropped was extremely tough, but looking back, it’s one of my proudest achievements. Sport has given me so much, and after a year of pain and eating more than enough humble pie, I was so proud to prove myself on the international stage once again.

“However, during the tournament [Women’s Six Nations], I was juggling a full-time job and starting to build my career. This next chapter excited me, but it simply no longer fits alongside international rugby.”

This week Scotland announced their 32-player WXV Global Series squad for upcoming Tests in September and October day after it was announced that Sione Fukofuka has vacated his position as head coach.

Fukofuka took charge of Scotland less than eight months ago and cited “family stress” as a reason for his departure, with assistant coach Dave Butcher stepping into the breach as interim head coach.

It was also announced that senior assistant coach Ioan Cunningham has left the setup too. Chris Laidlaw and Tom Luke have joined the squad on secondment from PWR clubs Harlequins and Bristol Bears.