Scotland front-rower Molly Wright says “it’s hard to put into words what this game has meant to me” after she announced her retirement from professional and international rugby.
When Wright, now 35, arrived in Scotland from New Zealand – via a stint in London to work within the NHS in early 2017- playing rugby again as she had done in her youth, let along winning an international cap, was the furthest thing from her mind.
However, pre-pandemic she joined Watsonians in Edinburgh and things moved on apace.
After gaining residency, she went on to make her Scotland debut in January 2020 against Spain, coming off the bench and marking the occasion by scoring a try in a 36-12 win.
In 2022, the player who could prop on both sides and hook and who spent some time growing up in Canada, was part of the squad that went to the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
By that stage she was playing her club rugby with PWR English top flight side Sale Sharks and it is with them that she played her last top level game versus Exeter Chiefs recently.
Her last Scotland appearances – there were 27 in all – came at her second World Cup in England last year.
Posting on Instagram she said: “It’s hard to put into words what this game has meant to me.
“What started as a young kid turning up to training, not knowing where rugby would take me, became a journey that shaped my entire life. Through the years, this game has seen me grow up. It has been there through some of the best days of my life and some of the toughest.
“I’ve celebrated, I’ve hurt, I’ve learned, and I’ve grown. Looking back now, it’s not the wins, losses, or milestones that stand out the most—it’s the people and the moments in between.
“The changing rooms, the bus journeys, the laughs after training, the friendships built through shared sacrifices, and the feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself. That’s what I’ll miss most.
“Rugby gave me a second family. It gave me lifelong friends, unforgettable memories, and lessons that will stay with me long after the final whistle.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have spent so much of my life involved in a sport that gives so much to so many. Not everyone gets to say they’ve found something they truly love and shared it with such amazing people.
“As this chapter comes to an end, I leave with a heart full of gratitude and memories I’ll cherish forever.
“Thank you to every team mate, coach, supporter, friend, and family member who was part of the journey.
“What a privilege it’s been.
“Rugby, thank you for helping me grow up.”
Her retirement means that of the 33 players who were part of the World Cup squad last year six have now retired from Scotland duties.
Along with Wright, the others are Christine Belisle, Lisa Cockburn, Jade Konkel, Beth Blacklock and Caity Mattinson.
Molly Wright is pictured with some of her Watsonians friends at last year’s Rugby World Cup
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