Van der Merwe hits 50 as McConnell makes international debut

• 30 Oct 2025
• News

Scotland winger Duhan van der Merwe earns his 50th Scotland cap in Saturday’s Quilter Nations Series opener against USA as back-row Liam McConnell makes his international debut.

Van der Merwe recovers from a foot injury that kept him out of last weekend’s URC clash in Cardiff to start on the wing, while McConnell is reward for the impressive form which has seen the academy graduate start every game for Edinburgh so far this season.

Hooker Harri Morris is named among the replacements and could also make his Scotland debut – he is one of 10 Edinburgh Rugby players named in the matchday squad.

Van der Merwe, who has notched some 32 international tries to date and is currently the country’s record try scorer, is joined in the back three by fellow Edinburgh wing Darcy Graham.

In the pack, McConnell starts at blindside flanker with clubmate Dylan Richardson on the openside.

Marshal Sykes starts in the second row, with hooker Patrick Harrison and tighthead D’Arcy Rae, who wins a first Scotland start, selected in the front row.

On the bench, potential debutant Morris is listed alongside Edinburgh captain Magnus Bradbury who is in line for a first Scotland outing since 2022.

The squad is completed by capital playmaker Ross Thompson, who will cover stand-off.

Scotland team to face USA in the Quilter Nations Series at Scottish Gas Murrayfield
Saturday 1 November (kick-off 5:40pm) – live on TNT Sports (caps in brackets):

15. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (14)

14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (47)
13. Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors (11)
12. Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (14) – Captain
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (49)

10. Adam Hastings – Glasgow Warriors (34)
9. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (14) – Vice-captain

1. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (43)
2. Patrick Harrison – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
3. D’Arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
4. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (42) – Vice-captain
5. Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
6. Liam McConnell – Edinburgh Rugby (uncapped)
7. Dylan Richardson – Edinburgh Rugby (6)
8. Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (26)

Replacements

16. Harri Morris – Edinburgh Rugby (uncapped)
17. Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (3)
18. Murphy Walker – Glasgow Warriors (5)
19. Alex Samuel – Glasgow Warriors (1)
20. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (7)
21. Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby (19)
22. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (38)
23. Ross Thompson – Edinburgh Rugby (5)