Former Howe of Fife scrum-half George Horne was recalled to Scotland's starting line-up on Saturday, making his first start for the national side in nearly two years as Scotland beat Fiji 33-17 at Murrayfield.
Horne returns to starting XV
The 31-year-old, born in Dundee, was handed only his eighth career start in as many years by head coach Gregor Townsend after being omitted from the previous matchday selection that lost 42-28 in South Africa. Horne began the weekend's fixture against Fiji and played the opening 48 minutes before returning briefly after the hour mark; Glasgow Warriors team-mate Jamie Dobie replaced him on the field.
Named one of Scotland's two vice-captains alongside Ollie Smith, Horne contributed with one conversion — his 13th for his country — and moves within three caps of a half-century, having gathered most of his appearances from the bench. At the time of the match he had 39 international caps, predominantly as a replacement.
Match progress and scorers
Scotland recovered from a first-half deficit of 17-7 to secure victory. Try scorers for Scotland included:
- Jonny Gray (lock)
- Jamie Dobie (two tries)
- Pierre Schoeman (substitute)
- Scott Cummings (substitute)
Fiji crossed for three tries as well, with one converted by Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula. Their try-scorers were Tevita Ikanivere, Selesitino Ravutaumada and Elia Canakaivata.
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Scotland | 33 |
| Fiji | 17 |
Coach reaction
“We’ve been able to show that we’re able to come back in games – against South Africa, for example, last week – and also being able to ride momentum as well. That’s the part that I’ve been most impressed with, and I’m pleased that the players are able to handle momentum and notice it and make sure that we get it back quickly.”
Townsend added that the team have developed a clearer identity, referencing both the attack and kicking game as areas that are working well.
Local significance
Horne's recall will be followed closely across Fife, where he is familiar to supporters through his time with Howe of Fife. His selection underlines the provincial pathways that continue to feed the national side, and it offers a reminder of the role local clubs play in developing players capable of reaching international level.
The match was staged at Murrayfield in front of a crowd of 55,215, providing a high-profile platform for Horne's return to the starting XV. For Fife rugby followers the appearance is both a personal milestone for Horne and a visible sign of the county's continued contribution to the Scottish game.
