Scotland are gearing up for a massive Six Nations rugby game with France on Saturday and Lochaber Minis player Thora Bennett-Levy will be involved as a matchday mascot at Murrayfield.
After back-to-back wins over England and Wales following a defeat to Italy, the Scots have 11 points and the only side above them in the competition standings is France on 15 out of a possible 15 with both teams still in the title mix.
They meet in Edinburgh this coming weekend in round four and Thora, the Ardgour Primary School P6 pupil, will be at the heart of the pre-match action as she and the other lucky mascots will be on the pitch singing the national anthem with the Scotland squad.
They will also get to do lots of other cool things on the day and Thora, 11, said: “I am very excited about this opportunity and I am looking forward to a very fun day at Murrayfield, I have been practicing singing the national anthem in preparation!”
Thora and her family live in Ardgour, just outside Fort William, and she plays in the P6/7 rugby team at Lochaber.
She enjoys training with her team and especially travelling to Dalriada tournament matches which take place in Mull, Oban, Lochgilphead and Taynuilt. She also recently participated in a special training session with the Lochaber ladies senior and junior teams and loved it.
Thora will be joined by her father and her brother at the big match on Saturday.
Her mother Claire said: “The whole family is excited about Thora’s big day and those of us who won’t be at Murrayfield will be cheering Scotland on from home and watching on TV to see if we can spot her!
“This is Thora’s third trip to Murrayfield as she attended Scotland versus Argentina with Lochaber rugby club and Scotland versus Tonga with family last November. She also had a memorable trip to watch the Scotland ladies beat Ireland at Hive Stadium next door to Murrayfield last year in their own Six Nations.
“This will be her first chance to watch a men’s Six Nations match live rather than cheering Scotland on from home and she is excited.”
Ailsa McAleer from Lochaber rugby club added: “The club was selected to nominate a mascot for this game as a ‘thank you’ for all the work that is going on within the youth space at Lochaber and the hard work we have done to engage with our community and grow the youth game which is all being led by Stevie McAleer.
“We chose Thora to be our representative as she won the award for best Minis attendance at lasts season’s awards. She is the only girl in her age group, but that does not put her off and she is a real team player with strength and ability.
“As a coaching group we think these are the kind of attributes that should be rewarded and we cannot wait to hear all about her big day.”
Thora is pictured