Cunningham is preparing with Scotland’s coaching team for another opening-round clash in Cardiff, this time at the Principality Stadium.
The setting is familiar, but his role with Scotland marks a new chapter.
The shift reflects just how quickly things move in international rugby.
Scotland edged that 2024 meeting 20–18 at Cardiff Arms Park, a result that proved significant as Wales struggled to recover.
That campaign ended with a bottom-place finish, and results across the year failed to improve.
Wales won four of their 11 matches in 2024.
Off-field issues added further strain, with ongoing contract disputes creating uncertainty around the squad. Cunningham stepped down in November after serving for three years.
Cunnigham’s Return to the International Stage
He quickly returned to international coaching.
A role with the Fiji women’s national team followed, and he made an immediate impact.
Fiji claimed a 28–25 win over Wales at the Women’s Rugby World Cup, a result that carried extra weight given its recent history.
And then came Scotland.
Scotland reshaped their coaching setup after their World Cup exit. Cunningham held discussions with Scottish Rugby about the head coach role, but the union appointed Sione Fukofuka instead.
But rather than step away, Cunningham joined the new group, working as a senior assistant alongside Fukofuka and forwards coach Dave Butcher. The trio have been tasked with pushing Scotland forward.
“I spoke with David Nucifora about the head coach role,” Cunningham said. “We then discussed other ways I could contribute to the growth of Scottish Rugby.”
“As a new coaching group, we are getting to know each other every day in terms of how we operate and our strengths and our ‘work ons’ as coaches.
“We just enjoy each other’s company and kicking ideas around. We have come in from different backgrounds, different experiences.
“For example, Dave was at a World Cup final last year with Canada, and he’s been in Canada for about 10 years, so he’s learned a lot of different ways of playing.
“I’m fortunate enough to have had experiences from Fiji and Wales. Sione has experience in the USA and Australia. There are a lot of great experiences coming together.
“From a personal point of view, I’ve got a Scottish connection. My grandfather was from Kilmarnock. I had an opportunity to play for Scotland Under-21s when I was 19, but I decided to stay with Wales.
“This is a bit of a personal thing for me, and I’m super proud to have this opportunity to work with Scotland. I’m just really looking forward to the first match now and the anthem if I’m honest.”
How Cunningham sees it
Cunningham has spent years studying Scotland from the outside. Now, working within the group he values the opportunity to work with a squad he believes has clear potential.
“I’ve done a lot of analysis on Scotland over the last four or five years,” he said. “Before, I looked at them through a different lens. Now I’m part of it, and that’s been really enjoyable.”
“I’ve loved getting to know the players and working with them day to day,” he said. “They’re a talented group, and I feel very lucky to be involved.”
“It’s a great chance for the players to perform at the Principality,” he said. “It’s one of the best stadiums in the world, and we’re all looking forward to it.”
Since joining the setup, Cunningham has focused heavily on culture and identity. He wants Scotland to build on the foundations already in place and push forward with a clear direction.
“This is a tight group who care about representing Scotland,” he said. “We want to build on that and keep driving standards.”
Scotland wants to improve on last year’s fifth-place finish and push into the top three. Cunningham has already outlined what that will take.
“We want to move up the table,” he said. “To do that, we need to win games, and that’s been a big focus for us.”
“There are a lot of strengths in how this team plays,” he said. “Now it’s about building on that, adding a bit more variety in attack and continuing to improve defensively.”
For Cunningham, the return to Cardiff brings familiarity, but his focus remains firmly on the present. With both teams entering a new cycle, his role in shaping Scotland’s next step adds another layer of intrigue to an already compelling opener.
