The Scottish Rugby Union has confirmed that women's head coach Sione Fukofuka is leaving his position after just eight months, citing personal reasons. Fukofuka took the reins in December, ahead of the Women's Six Nations, where his team finished fifth with a single victory over Wales. With Fukofuka's departure, forwards coach Dave Butcher will assume interim charge of the team as they prepare for the upcoming WXV Global series, which kicks off on September 13. In a statement, Fukofuka expressed the difficulty of his decision, stating, 'I've made the toughest professional decision of my life to step down as head coach.' He explained that the strain on his family, who are based in Australia, had become too great, and he was forced to request a release from his contract on compassionate grounds.
Fukofuka revealed that time spent with his family over the summer had given him a newfound appreciation for the sacrifices they were making, and a change in family circumstances, including his wife's parents falling ill, meant that their plans to relocate were no longer feasible. As a result, Fukofuka felt he could not continue in the role while being away from his family for an extended period. Scottish Rugby performance director David Nucifora said, 'We appreciate Sione's contributions to Scottish Rugby, and although we're sad to see him go, we understand and respect his reasons for leaving.' Nucifora praised Fukofuka's passion and dedication to the national team and the women's program during his tenure, adding that the priority now is to support the team and staff ahead of the WXV Global Series, with recruitment conversations underway to ensure the long-term success of the program.