Senior International Matches (Men)

Sat 17th October 2026   - KO  15:00 - Hawick RFC , Scotland
Official: Kevin Moore (England)

Scotland

12

FT

44

Half Time
6 - 22

Ireland

Tries

Conner TERRILL (28)
Ross WHITMORE (71)

Oliver WHITFORD (4,54)
Lewis WING (16)
Patrick MORAN (20)
Kyle BARRETT (39)
Aidan MCGOWAN (51)
Aaron LYNCH (63)
Kian ROBERTS (79)

Goals

Joseph LOWE (2/2)

James FARRAR (6/8)

Match Preview: Scotland and Ireland name squads for Men's Celtic Cup Opener

The inaugural men’s Celtic Cup will kick off on Saturday 17 October, when Scotland take on Ireland in a senior international for world ranking points at Hawick RFC (kick off 3pm, local time).

Six players are in line to make their debuts for the Bravehearts, with Goole Vikings’ Morgan Punchard, Connor McGuinness from Huddersfield Giants, Jacob Walker, Tom Glover, Warrington’s Max Blackie and Ross Ainley from Whitehaven all hoping for the call.

Scotland head coach, Adam Houston, noted: “There are a number of new faces many of whom have come through the pathways in the last couple of years. We’re still very much in a rebuilding and developing phase, but with the next major goal being the 2030 World Cup, games like these are vital to keep progressing as a team.

“We hope to continue building momentum following the win against Canada in July. We’re confident in our ability to produce performances and of moving up the rankings again.”

George King will captain Ireland who can call on five potential debutants in Leigh’s Bobby Barton, Daniel and Jamie Coop from Warrington, Hull KR’s Kian Roberts and Billy Tait of Goole in a squad which also contains three players from the Irish domestic competition.

Ireland head coach, Ged Corcoran, said: “As we return to the international stage, we do so with a clear purpose of developing young talent, and all of those selected for the Celtic Cup are either proud Irishmen by birth or deep-rooted heritage connections to the country.”

A curtain raiser between Scotland ‘A’ and South of England community side takes place at 12pm. 

NOTE: 17/10/2026 Following request from Scotland Rugby League due to injuries and illness Cameron Cullen, Connor McGuinness and Jacob Grierson were withdrawn and replaced with Lucas Anderson-Moore and Shaun Callan with IRL's permission. 

Scotland (squad): Max ANDERSON-MOORE (Barrow Island), Charlie EMSLIE (Barrow Raiders), Roserutabua TAWANAYAVULALA (Edinburgh Eagles), Morgan PUNCHARD (Goole Vikings), Oliver MAHER (Leeds Beckett University), Ben MORRIS (Newcastle Lightning), Conner TERRILL (North Wales Crusaders), Ross WHITMORE (Rochdale Hornets), Jacob WALKER (Seaton Rangers), Tom GRAY (Skirlaugh), Tom GLOVER (St Helens), Brett CARTER, Joseph LOWE, Kieran MORAN (Unattached), Max BLACKIE (Warrington Wolves), Lucas ANDERSON MOORE, Shaun CALLAN

Ireland (squad): Michael WARD (Batley Bulldogs), James FARRAR, Ryan HOGG (Dublin City Exiles), Kyle BARRETT (Galway Tribesmen), Bailey TAIT (Goole Vikings), George KING (Huddersfield Giants), Declan O'DONNELL, Kian ROBERTS (Hull KR), Lachlan LANSKEY (Keighley Cougars), Bobby BARTON (Leigh Leopards), Oisin CARROLL (Longhorns), Aidan MCGOWAN (Midlands Hurricanes), Patrick MORAN (North Wales Crusaders), Oliver WHITFORD (Rochdale Hornets), Dan LYNCH (Salford RLFC), Aaron LYNCH (Swinton Lions), Lewis WING (Unattached), Daniel COOP, Jamie COOP (Warrington Wolves)

15 October 2026
1 Tom GRAY
Full Back
Oliver WHITFORD 1
2 Roserutabua TAWANAYAVULALA
Right Wing
Lewis WING 2
3 Brett CARTER
Right Centre
James FARRAR 20
4 Max ANDERSON-MOORE
Left Centre
Aaron LYNCH 4
5 Shaun CALLAN
Left Wing
Bailey TAIT 5
6 Joseph LOWE
Stand Off
Aidan MCGOWAN 6
7 Morgan PUNCHARD
Scrum Half
Bobby BARTON 7
8 Conner TERRILL
Prop
George KING 22
9 Ross WHITMORE
Hooker
Declan O'DONNELL 9
10 Kieran MORAN
Prop
Patrick MORAN 10
11 Charlie EMSLIE
Second Row
Ryan HOGG 11
12 Max BLACKIE
Second Row
Lachlan LANSKEY 12
13 Oliver MAHER
Loose Forward
Daniel COOP 13
14 Ben MORRIS
Int 1
Kyle BARRETT 14
16 Jacob WALKER
Int 2
Michael WARD 15
17 Tom GLOVER
Int 3
Oisin CARROLL 16
18 Lucas ANDERSON MOORE
Int 4
Kian ROBERTS 17
Reserve 1
Dan LYNCH 24
Match Report: Scotland go down 12-46 in Hawick to Ireland Men

Ireland came away from Hawick with a convincing 44-12 win in the opening game of the men’s Celtic Cup. Fullback Oliver Whitford led the way with two tries, including the opener in the fourth minute and the Wolfhounds built an impressive 22-6 half time lead when hooker Kyle Barrett burrowed his way over just before the break.

 “I was really pleased with the result and the performance and that the majority of the team has come through our pathways programme,” said Ireland men’s head coach Ged Corcoran. “The senior players guided the squad well and we were determined throughout. It’ll be a different game against Wales which we’ll start to focus on now.”

 Bravehearts prop Connor Terrill dragged his side back into the contest with a powerful burst, but two tries in four minutes from Lewis King, with a wonderful acrobatic leap into the corner, and Patrick Moran put the visitors in control and they kicked on from there.

 There was little between the sides at the start of the second half, Aiden McGowan then finishing off a good team move to extend Ireland’s lead, Aaron Lynch and Kian Roberts - on debut - with further scores.

 Ross Whitmore grabbed a consolation for the hosts, who had three players pull out late on due to illness in the camp.

 Scotland men’s head coach, Adam Houston, commented: “I’m proud of the effort the boys showed against a well organised and physical Ireland side. We went through some adversity through the week and were forced to call in three young players late on Friday night who all equipped themselves well. 

 “We competed for parts of the match but Ireland capitalised on a couple of our errors and made us pay. We’ve taken some criticism over the years, but this shows that the pathway does work, we just need to give it some time to bear fruit, the future is bright for Scotland RL.”

Picture: Simon Hall

18 October 2026