2025 Lions Experience Can Propel Scotland to New Heights

Having provided the British & Irish Lions with several key players on their victorious 2025 series in Australia over the summer, Scotland can benefit from the winning culture their top stars experienced Down Under.

With the search for a maiden Six Nations crown ongoing, perhaps the competition’s nearly men can finally get over the line in 2026 with players who shone on the last Lions tour.

A Lions Tour Scots Can Be Proud Of

While Scotland has, over the years, produced iconic players like Gavin Hastings and Andy Irvine, the Scottish love affair with the Lions had dwindled before the 2025 series in Australia. Scotland, who are 18/1 with a bet online to win the 2026 Six Nations, have shown signs of progress over the last four years. That was highlighted by the fact that 11 Scots ended up featuring on the tour Down Under.

Dark horses again for the next Six Nations, Scotland have been desperately seeking the secret behind the consistency needed to win the competition, with punters able to use an acca calculator to get the best price from potentially backing the men in blue through the tournament. Having players shine in winning environments can only help head coach Gregor Townsend, and many Scots got to live that for the Lions against the Wallabies.

Looking back at the 2-1 win on Australian soil, Scotland fly-half Finn Russell was named Player of the Series, while centre Huw Jones was also in the running after his try-scoring displays Down Under. Sione Tuipulotu impressed before an injury hampered his tour, while the likes of Blair Kinghorn, Duhan van der Merwe, and Scott Cummings also caught the eye with their performances. Having the chance to play alongside the top players from the other three nations will be a massive boost for these Scottish players ahead of an intriguing Six Nations campaign in 2026.

The Final Piece of the Puzzle?

Scotland have shown that on their day, and especially at Murrayfield, they can beat any side in the Six Nations. Away form has let the Scots down in the past, but star players managing to perform in Australia for the Lions could bode well for the next Six Nations. All being fit, Scotland can put out a first-choice backline consisting entirely of players who featured for the Lions on the last tour. Even players who didn’t feature in Australia, like George Horne, Rory Hutchinson, and Cameron Redpath, have been impressing for their respective clubs this season.

It’s in the forwards where Scotland have perhaps lacked the grunt and the strength in depth when injuries have hit in the past. That might be starting to change, with the Fagerson brothers, Zander and Matt, now experienced Test players and Cummings reaching new levels on the Lions tour. Again, it’s more positive signs for the Scots, who have their work cut out for them to try and narrow the gap on the likes of Ireland and France.

Ranked as outsiders for the 2026 Six Nations, it certainly won’t be easy for Scotland, but with players standing out on the Lions tour of Australia, Townsend’s side has the potential to cause an upset in the highly anticipated tournament this time around.