Scotland appoint two new assistant coaches as another senior figure departs

Hot on the heels of Sione Fukofuka’s departure as Scotland Women head coach the union have confirmed the appointment of two assistant coaches.

Former Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham, who joined the union at the start of 2026 as a senior assistant coach, has also left Scottish Rugby to “pursue new opportunities”.

Dave Butcher, who will lead Scotland as interim head coach at the WXV Global Series in September and October, has been joined by Chris Laidlaw and Tom Luke on the coaching ticket.

Laidlaw was Glasgow Warriors’ first head coach in the Celtic Challenge and has worked for JAECOO Premiership Women’s Rugby club Harlequins for the past two years.

He initially will join Scotland on secondment in August before returning to Harlequins and will then join Scotland’s coaching staff on a permanent basis. He served as an assistant coach with Scotland during the 2023 Women’s Six Nations.

Laidlaw said: “I am delighted to be returning to Scotland and taking up this role within the national women’s team.

“I am hugely passionate about this team and can see massive potential across the playing group and pathway. I am looking forward to working with all the players and staff as we continue to drive the women’s game forward in Scotland at international level.

“I can’t wait to get started as we approach an exciting run of games against some of the world’s best and meet the challenges head on over the coming months.”

Bristol Bears assistant Tom Luke has also joined Scotland on secondment. He will only join the West Country club for the WXV Global Series. Luke has been with Bristol since 2021 and helped the club to the league final in 2024. Last season Bears placed eighth in PWR.

Luke said: “I’m incredibly grateful to Bristol Bears for supporting me in taking this opportunity with Scotland Women. Coaching international rugby is a real privilege, and I’m excited to work with such a talented group of players.

“I’ve been lucky enough to coach a few of the current squad at club level and if they’re a reflection of the wider group, I can’t wait to meet everyone and get started.”

Last week it was announced that former Scotland Men’s Sevens captain Robbie Fergusson would work with Scotland as an assistant coach for this WXV Global Series after his appointment as Glasgow Warriors head coach in the Celtic Challenge.

Any Rhys-Jones, Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways, said: “We are pleased to welcome Chris and Tom to the Scotland Women coaching staff for WXV.

“Chris brings a valuable combination of experience from his previous roles within Scottish Rugby and his two seasons in Premiership Women’s Rugby with Harlequins. That time has further developed him as a coach, providing valuable insight into the demands of a daily high-performance training environment.

“He has a strong understanding of the women’s programme and players in Scotland through his previous work with the national team and as Women’s Head Coach of Glasgow Warriors. Alongside his coaching expertise, Chris brings a collaborative approach, a strong connection with players and an infectious energy for coaching, which will be a great addition to the wider WNT [Women’s National Team] environment.

“Tom has spent several seasons as assistant coach with Bristol Bears Women, where he has established himself as a highly regarded coach and gained significant experience in delivering an ambitious, attacking style of play.

“He has built a strong reputation for developing players and helping them perform at their best, and we’re looking forward to the experience and attacking mindset he will bring to the coaching group during WXV.

“We would like to thank Harlequins and Bristol for their support in helping Chris and Tom take up this opportunity and we look forward to welcoming them into the programme for the start of WXV preparations.”