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Ashman writes his name into the history books against the All Blacks

8 Nov 2026

Ewan Ashman became the first Scotland men's player to score a hat-trick against New Zealand in Saturday's Nations Championship Test at Scottish Gas Murrayfield – and only the fifth men's player from any nation to do so.

Hooker Ashman was the only Edinburgh player in Gregor Townsend’s starting XV and crossed three times in the opening 40 minutes, with Finn Russell converting each, as Scotland fought back to trail just 24-21 at the break.

The All Blacks took control after the interval to win 43-21 and extend their unbeaten record against Scotland, but the afternoon still belonged in part to Ashman, who has joined one of the most exclusive clubs in Test rugby.

Three tries, one half

Ashman’s first try arrived following a 50:22 that put the hosts deep in All Blacks territory. Scott Cummings claimed the lineout and, after patient work at the maul, Ashman crashed over to put Scotland 7-5 ahead.

His second, on 26 minutes, came from open play. Rory Darge and Sione Tuipulotu worked the opening and Ashman ran a strong line past Sititi to finish, cutting the gap to 17-14.

The third arrived two minutes before half-time. With New Zealand down to 14 after Sititi’s yellow card, Scotland went to the corner, the backs piled into a five-metre lineout maul and Ashman was the man at the back of it to complete his hat-trick.

In select company

Before Saturday, only four men’s players had scored three or more tries in a Test against the All Blacks:

Greg Cornelsen (Australia) – four tries from No 8 in a 30-16 win at Eden Park, 1978
Ray Mordt (South Africa) – Auckland, 1981
Marius Joubert (South Africa) – Ellis Park, 2004
Tom Rogers (Wales) – Cardiff, November 2025

Ashman is only the second forward on that list after Cornelsen, and the first front-rower. No Scot had previously managed more than two in a Test against New Zealand – a mark reached by Doddie Weir at the 1995 Rugby World Cup and Tim Visser in 2012.

An Edinburgh thread

Ashman’s achievement continues a strong Edinburgh link to Scotland’s tries against the All Blacks:

2012 – all three Scotland tries in a 51-22 defeat at Murrayfield came from Edinburgh players: two for Visser on his home debut, and a first international try for prop Geoff Cross
2022 – Darcy Graham’s intercept score in a 31-23 defeat
2025 – Ashman rolled over from a maul for Scotland’s first points in last November’s 25-17 defeat
2026 – Ashman’s hat-trick, making it four tries in his last two Tests against New Zealand