Captain Rachel Malcolm says the Scotland players have been put in an “unfair position” by a “very disruptive” build-up to this summer’s Rugby World Cup.

Last month a source from the Scotland camp told the BBC players were “suffering with their mental and emotional health” as more than half the squad faced uncertainty over their contracts after the tournament.

Scottish Rugby said in a statement that “there is no right time for a process like this to take place” but they have “now concluded contracting discussions with all members of the Rugby World Cup training squad”.

Head coach Bryan Easson announced last week he would be stepping down after the World Cup, which Malcolm said came as “a shock” and she described the timing of the announcement, so close to the tournament, as “upsetting”.

Malcolm said having to deal with numerous off-field issues less than a month out from the event has disappointing.

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

“As players we want to have 1000% of our focus on performing for our country at the biggest tournament in our careers, but there’s obviously been that distraction.

“I think all of us are very passionate that the game in Scotland needs to grow and all of us are very passionate about being a part of that process, but not at the detriment of our performance at this World Cup, which ultimately is the most important part of our careers as players.

“I think it’s slightly unfair to put us in a position where that distraction’s been there.

“My ethos as a captain is to make my players feel like superwomen, it’s to make them feel valued and like they belong. And the processes which have gone on behind the scenes have definitely done almost the opposite of those three things, so it’s definitely made my job a little bit tougher.”