Rachel Malcolm will captain Scotland at next month’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, as Bryan Easson confirmed a 32-strong squad aiming to make an impact in Pool B against Wales, Fiji and Canada.
Eighteen forwards and fourteen backs have been selected, with a strong core of tournament experience — 21 of the players featured in the 2022 edition. Malcolm is joined by a number of seasoned campaigners, including the squad’s most-capped player, hooker Lana Skeldon, who has 81 appearances.
Second-row Emma Wassell returns after recovering from a benign chest tumour last year, adding to a forward pack that also features fellow World Cup returnees Leah Bartlett, Molly Wright, Elis Martin, Jade Konkel, Rachel McLachlan, Eva Donaldson and Sarah Bonar.
Vice-captain Helen Nelson heads the list of backs with prior tournament experience, joined by wingers Coreen Grant and Rhona Lloyd, centres Emma Orr, Evie Wills and Lisa Thomson, and scrum-half Caity Mattinson.
There is also space for fresh faces. Edinburgh winger Hannah Walker is the only uncapped player, while stand-off Hannah Ramsay made her debut in this summer’s Tests against Italy and Ireland. Other players set for their first taste of Rugby World Cup action include Becky Boyd, Adelle Ferrie, Lisa Cockburn, Molly Poolman, Evie Gallagher, Alex Stewart, Beth Blacklock, Leia Brebner-Holden, Rhea Clarke and Francesca McGhie.
History will be made when prop Elliann Clarke and scrum-half Rhea Clarke take the field — the first Scottish sisters to appear in the same Rugby World Cup squad.
Six members of the squad have been involved with Edinburgh Rugby during the current Celtic Challenge campaign, underlining the growing domestic pathway into the national side.
Scotland Women’s Rugby World Cup Squad – caps in brackets
(* denotes previous Rugby World Cup selection)
Forwards
Leah Bartlett – Sale Sharks (45)*
Becky Boyd – Loughborough Lightning (3)
Sarah Bonar – Harlequins (47)*
Elliann Clarke – Bristol Bears (22)*
Lisa Cockburn – Gloucester Hartpury (34)
Eva Donaldson – Sale Sharks (17)*
Evie Gallagher – Bristol Bears (37)
Adelle Ferrie – Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars (6)
Jade Konkel – Harlequins (71)*
Rachel Malcolm – captain – Trailfinders Women (58)*
Elis Martin – Loughborough Lightning (22)*
Rachel McLachlan – Montpellier (53)*
Molly Poolman – Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC (5)
Lana Skeldon – Bristol Bears (81)*
Alex Stewart – Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars (13)
Emma Wassell – Trailfinders Women (69)*
Molly Wright – Sale Sharks (24)*
Anne Young – Loughborough Lightning (21)*
Backs
Leia Brebner-Holden – Loughborough Lightning (11)
Beth Blacklock – Saracens (4)
Rhea Clarke – Bristol Bears (1)
Coreen Grant – Harlequins (17)*
Rhona Lloyd – Sale Sharks (59)*
Caity Mattinson – Trailfinders Women (33)*
Francesca McGhie – Trailfinders Women (22)
Helen Nelson – Loughborough Lightning (71)*
Hannah Ramsay – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (2)
Chloe Rollie – Toulon Provence Mediterranee (77)*
Emma Orr – Bristol Bears (30)*
Lisa Thomson – Trailfinders Women (71)*
Hannah Walker – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (Uncapped)
Evie Wills – Sale Sharks (6)*
