‘Disruptive’ Scotland build-up frustrates Malcolm

The Scotland players have been put in an “unfair position” by the “very disruptive” build-up to the Rugby World Cup this summer, according to captain Rachel Malcolm.

More than half the squad’s contracts after the tournament were in doubt, according to a source from the Scotland camp, and the BBC players were being “suffering with their mental and emotional health.”

Although discussions are still ongoing, chief executive Alex Williamson stated that the contract negotiations would be settled prior to Scotland’s opener against Wales on August 23.

According to Malcolm, the announcement came as “a shock” and she described the timing of the announcement, which came so close to the end of the tournament, as “upsetting.”

It has been disappointing, according to Malcolm, having to deal with numerous off-field issues less than a month after the event.

Scottish Rugby is requesting comment from the BBC.

The 34-year-old flanker said, “I think the timing is the most frustrating.”

“As players, we want to put 100% of our energy into winning the biggest tournament of our careers, but there has obviously been that distraction,” we said.

“I believe that all of us are very passionate about helping Scotland grow,” but not to the detriment of our performance at this World Cup, which is ultimately the most crucial stage of our careers as players.

“I believe it’s a little unfair to place that distraction here,” she said.

Malcolm claimed that discussions with the Scottish Rugby hierarchy to try to resolve the contractual dispute left her feeling less than sympathetic toward our case because both the union and the Scottish Rugby hierarchy did not appear to have had much sympathy for our case.

Malcolm thinks that the head coach’s decision was made in light of the timing of Easson’s impending departure.

There isn’t much else we can do about it, she said, “I don’t think much of it was within his control, so obviously Scottish Rugby decided that’s the time to do it,” she said.

It’s not the most ideal form of preparation. It has caused a lot of disruption.

Easson acknowledged that the timing of the announcement was problematic because “sticky” discussions with Williamson took place last month, but he did not indicate whether he was stepping down.

After the Rugby World Cup, my contract was up. “We have been talking about it for a while to see what’s happening, and it’s been a while,” he said.

To be honest, discussions have been contentious, and there was a delay, but we did have a discussion three or four weeks ago.

“It was believed that this was the right moment to proceed. Although it was just an adult conversation between two people, I would have preferred the timing to have been a little bit different.