Scotland have just lost 207 caps of experience through retirements, but fans still hopeful of bright future

Another long-serving member of the Scotland team retired from international rugby this week as Grieg Laidlaw brought his 76-match Test career to an end. 

The 34-year-old joins fellow former Scotland captain John Barclay in retirement, as well as Tommy Seymour, who toured on the 2017 British and Irish Lions with Laidlaw. 

Since Scotland crashed out of the World Cup in the pool stage, head coach Gregor Townsend has lost 207 caps-worth of experience between those three players who have been mainstays in the national team for the best part of a decade. 

It is for that reason that many fans are lamenting the end of an era for Scottish rugby. However, it is equally the beginning of a new one with some very promising players. 

In every position that has seen these Scots retire there are players that will ably step up to replace them.

Flankers like Hamish Watson and Jamie Ritchie are both vying for the blue seven shirt, while Magnus Bradbury is shaping up to be Scotland’s blindside flanker for years to come in Barclay’s absence. 

Ali Price and Laidlaw have battled for the nine shirt over the past year or so, and George Horne showed in the RWC that he is a Test player. 

Elsewhere, Darcy Graham and Blair Kinghorn are two wingers that are prime candidates to fill the void left by Seymour. While these are big names leaving Scottish rugby, there is undoubtedly the class at Townsend’s disposal to take the team forward as they build for the next RWC. 

Laidlaw even highlighted this in an Instagram post in which he said “my head tells me that it is time to let the team rebuild. In terms of where Scotland is now, they are in a position to spring forward and I cannot wait to give them my full support from the stands”. 

Such is his devotion to the national team, that he has chosen what he feels to be the best time to step down.