Most people involved in the Scottish women’s rugby community will be cheering on Scotland in the big WXV 2 match this Saturday, but some, like Rochan Millar, will be supporting Australia.
The 36-year-old Hillhead Jordanhill hooker grew up in Bunbury, Western Australia, and will be cheering on the Wallaroos in Cape Town at the weekend. In fact, she will also be playing herself on the day having been named on the Hills’ bench for their Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership match away to Stewartry.
“It’ll be Aussie, Aussie, Aussie all the way for me, absolutely, any chance to support the green and gold and I’ll take it,” the player, who works as a project manager away from the pitch, said.
“I’ve also got quite a few mates that play for Scotland so I always barrack for those ones too and it is great to see both countries playing in such a big match.”
It was around five years ago when she was living in London that Millar took up rugby at the Hamstead club.
“I had only been to one training session then signed up for rugby tour to Poland,” she explained.
“The drinking, banter, laughter and good times had me hooked immediately. It was the first time I had been surrounded by strong, independent, powerful women that didn’t give a damn what anyone else thought and I loved it.
“When I was based in London then decided to do the Great Glen Way one week in August and, lucky me, got the scenery and, even more rare, the weather.
“It was amazing so I called work when I got back and asked them to move me to Scotland. I ended up at Hills as I got a flat in the west end and didn’t have a car so instead of joining my mates at Cartha I went to Hills and I have not looked back since.
“Since I got involved in rugby Hamstead, and specifically Hills, have provided me with a family and community which is really special when you are so far away from home.
“The best memory of my time at Hills so far was winning the Cup final at Murrayfield in 2022 [versus Watsonians, 10-5], what a day!
“Other great times include ceilidhs, nights out, going away with the club for the Mull Sevens.
“There has been many a social and whenever ‘Walking on the Waves’ by Skipinnish comes on we all get in a line, put our hands on each other’s shoulders and run around the room in a giant train.
“It doesn’t matter where or when we always do this and it really makes a night out! We have such fun making memories which I will look fondly back on in years to come which is what rugby is all about.”
Frankie will be watching on from Devon
On Saturday when Scotland and Australia play in the big WXV 2 match in South Africa there will be someone with a soft spot for both nations watching on from Devon.
Frankie Boorman grew up in Western Australia and started playing rugby towards the end of 2023 with Leith in Edinburgh.
“I’d been on the rugby sidelines since I was born, just about everyone in my family has played rugby to some degree from low level club rugby to international All Black rugby so it’s always something I’ve enjoyed watching,” she explained.
“As I got older decided I wanted to try my hand at playing, but never had the confidence until I was in Scotland and then decided to take the plunge and loved it!
“I lived in Edinburgh about six years ago, then when I moved home and met my English-born husband back in Australia we decided to move back to Scotland and the rest is history.
“I ended up playing for Leith because they were my local club and stayed because they’re some of the most welcoming and wonderful people I’ve ever met.
“Being nominated for forward of the match in my last game before I left Leith, after having such a fun game with my friends and trying my best, was a big highlight and generally just training with my friends and getting the privilege of sharing the pitch for 80 minutes with them regularly was great.”
Frankie is now down in Devon, but the No.8 is not playing at the moment as she is six months pregnant.
“I do hope to play rugby again in the future, but Leith will be hard to live up to because it is such a great club,” the 30-year-old said.
And asked who she will be supporting on Saturday as she watches on TV she joked: “Does it make me a traitor if I say Scotland?!”
The Scotland-Australia game is at 4pm UK time on Saturday at the Athlone Sports Stadium and live on BBC iPlayer and RugbyPass TV
Scotland women’s matchday squad for the WXV 2 clash with Australia
15 Chloe Rollie (Ealing Trailfinders) (69)
14 Coreen Grant (Saracens) (13)
13 Emma Orr (Bristol Bears) (23)
12 Lisa Thomson (Ealing Trailfinders) (63)
11 Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers) (16)
10 Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning) (64)
9 Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester-Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers) (4)
1 Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers) (37)
2 Lana Skelson (Bristol Bears) (73)
3 Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears) (14)
4 Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers) (14)
5 Sarah Bonar (Harlequins) (41)
6 Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning, C) (51)
7 Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier) (45)
8 Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears) (31)
Subs
16 Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning) (14)
17 Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning) (14)
18 Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning) (39)
19 Louise McMillan (Saracens) (57)
20 Jade Konkel (Harlequins) (65)
21 Caity Mattinson (Ealing Trailfinders) (26)
22 Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears) (21)
23 Lucia Scott (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury) (3)
Thanks to Rochan and Frankie for the photos
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