Scotland head coach Bryan Easson has revealed that former Community School of Auchterarder pupil Hannah Walker was in a state of disbelief when she got the call to tell her that she was in the Women’s Rugby World Cup squad.
The 20-year-old was part of the wider training squad over the early part of the summer and heading into the Summer Tests with Italy and Ireland, but the uncapped winger did not play in either of those and was set to miss out on the upcoming showpiece event in England.
However, Lucia Scott broke her hand against Ireland last weekend and has since had surgery.
It meant that a space became available in the 32-strong squad and, last Thursday when it was named in St Andrews, Walker’s name was in it. Walker has previously played for her school, Tayside and Fife and Stirling County and now plays for Edinburgh University and Edinburgh Rugby.
Easson said: “Ellen Dickson, the team manager, gave Hannah a call early last week to tell her the news and I’m not sure she believed her in the first place.
“She was with her family at the time and then came quickly to St Andrews on the Tuesday night to join up with us.
“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind for her, but she was in the extended squad.
“She did train with us the first few weeks of our pre-World Cup programme and trained really well. It shows the strength of her back three at the moment that she was due to miss out.
“I think she’s shown over the last couple of seasons how good a finisher she is and she now has this big chance.”
The World Cup event runs from August 22 to September 27 and the Scotland pool matches are against Wales in Manchester on August 23, Fiji in Manchester on August 30 and Canada in Exeter on September 6.
The Scotland squad will next meet up in Edinburgh on Thursday before travelling to Manchester on Friday.
Scotland Women’s Rugby World Cup squad
Forwards: Leah Bartlett, Becky Boyd, Sarah Bonar, Elliann Clarke, Lisa Cockburn, Eva Donaldson, Evie Gallagher, Adelle Ferrie, Jade Konkel, Rachel Malcolm (C), Elis Martin, Rachel McLachlan, Molly Poolman, Lana Skeldon, Alex Stewart, Emma Wassell, Molly Wright, Anne Young.
Backs: Leia Brebner-Holden, Beth Blacklock, Rhea Clarke, Coreen Grant, Rhona Lloyd, Caity Mattinson, Francesca McGhie, Helen Nelson, Emma Orr, Hannah Ramsay, Chloe Rollie, Lisa Thomson, Hannah Walker, Evie Wills.
Hannah Walker is pictured at the squad announcement – thanks to Ruby Adam Photography
From August 7 until September 30, GH Media will be following the Scotland World Cup journey all of the way. We will be at all of the Scotland matches down south and will be bringing you all of the interviews and news from camp as well as taking a wider look at the tournament as a whole and its impact on the women’s game. Thanks to Quirky Chocolate and other supporters for allowing this content to happen and to readers for engaging with it.