SCOTLAND Women Head Coach Bryan Easson named a 32-player squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
And it contains Borders trio Lana Skeldon, Chloe Rollie and Lisa Thomson along with Biggar’s Emma Orr who is the youngest member of the squad, having turned 19 years old during this year’s Women’s Six Nations championship
The squad comprises of an equal split of 16 forwards and 16 backs, with the tournament marking the first ever Rugby World Cup experience for the entire squad, Scotland having made their last appearance at the showpiece event 12 years ago.
Easson said: “We are all incredibly excited for the month ahead. I think it’s been a long time coming and it was exactly this time last year that we were in Italy trying to qualify for the Rugby World Cup so it’s been a year in the making.
“I’m hugely honoured to be naming our squad for the Rugby World Cup and I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone in the management team who has worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to get us to this point.
“A lot of discussions have been had, a lot of players have been played over the past year as well, so the process around that was to make sure we had the right players going.
“Selection has been tough as the players trained exceptionally hard over the summer, and then obviously getting the players back from the Commonwealth Games has been exciting for us as well.
“Everyone should feel incredibly proud of being selected for the tournament and I know the squad and management are ready for the challenge ahead.”
The squad will depart for New Zealand on 23 September, ahead of their first pool match against Wales on Sunday 9 October at Northland Event Centre, Whangarei (kick-off 5.45pm NZ time, 5.45am UK time).
The side will then go on to face fellow Pool A opponents Australia on Saturday 15 October (kick-off 3pm NZ time, 3am UK time) before taking on reigning champions and hosts, New Zealand, on Saturday 22 October (kick-off 4.45pm NZ time, 4.45am UK time).
Scotland squad for the Rugby World Cup 2021 - FORWARDS (16) Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning), Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning), Sarah Bonar (Harlequins), Elliann Clarke (Edinburgh University), Katie Dougan (Gloucester-Hartpury), Evie Gallagher (Worcester Warriors), Jade Konkel-Roberts (Harlequins), Rachel Malcolm CAPTAIN (Loughborough Lightning), Rachel McLachlan (Sale Sharks), Louise McMillan (Saracens), Lyndsay O’Donnell (Worcester Warriors), Lana Skeldon (Worcester Warriors), Jodie Rettie (Saracens), Emma Wassell (Loughborough Lightning), Molly Wright (Sale Sharks), Anne Young (Heriot’s Rugby)
BACKS (16) Shona Campbell (Edinburgh University), Megan Gaffney (Loughborough Lightning), Coreen Grant (Saracens), Sarah Law (Sale Sharks), Rhona Lloyd (Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais), Caity Mattinson (Worcester Warriors), Mairi McDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill), Liz Musgrove (Watsonians) Helen Nelson VICE-CAPTAIN (Loughborough Lightning), Emma Orr (Biggar RFC), Chloe Rollie (Exeter Chiefs), Eilidh Sinclair (Exeter Chiefs), Hannah Smith (Watsonians), Meryl Smith (Edinburgh University), Lisa Thomson (Sale Sharks), Evie Wills (Hillhead Jordanhill)
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