Bold statement: A Scottish rugby legend is stepping back from the front line, leaving a lasting mark but opening the door to new possibilities. And this is the part most people miss—Bryan Redpath is not retiring from life; he’s choosing to refocus his energy on his business interests while leaving London Scottish at the end of the 2025/26 Championship Rugby season.
Bryan Redpath, a revered figure in Scottish rugby with 60 caps as a former scrum-half and captain, has spent four years guiding the Exiles. Despite tight resources, he has kept London Scottish competitive in the Championship, a testament to his leadership and determination.
At 54, Redpath has decided to step away from rugby to devote more time to his commercial ventures. Whether this marks the end of his coaching career remains uncertain, as the door could reopen for him in the future.
His coaching journey spans a decade in the Premiership, with stints at Gloucester and Sale, before taking the helm at Yorkshire Carnegie in 2015. He left Headingley—and rugby—in 2018 to join AFEX, a major global payment, foreign currency, and risk management provider. He was drawn back into the sport by Scottish, but he now departs again with a heavy heart.
In his own words, “With a heavy heart, this will be my final season with Scottish.” He extended heartfelt thanks to the board, sponsors, and supporters for four years of backing and stability, and especially to the players, whose commitment made his tenure possible. He attributed the demanding nature of his additional business obligations as the tipping point.
Under Redpath’s leadership, London Scottish finished 11th in his first season and 9th in the following two campaigns when the division consisted of 12 teams. This season, the club sits second from bottom, facing a relegation playoff unless they can rally to end the campaign on a higher note, following a notable 24-21 victory over Chinnor at home last weekend.
London Scottish’s president, Stephen Pearson, expressed deep gratitude for Redpath’s service: he highlighted Redpath’s exceptional dedication and the positive results achieved under challenging circumstances. Pearson affirmed that Redpath has been a pleasure to work with over three-and-a-half seasons and wished him all the best for the future.
