Emma Wassell says it was “very cool” to be asked to deliver the match ball ahead of Scotland men’s big Guinness Six Nations match with Wales on Saturday.
Wassell, the 30-year-old second-row, has played 67 times for the national women’s team over the years and, on International Women’s Day, she was given the honour of taking the ball out at Murrayfield before the Scots’ 35-29 round four bonus point triumph over the visitors.
The honour was shared with Julie Beavan, the granddaughter of the first ever try scorer at the stadium in 1925 Jimmy Nelson, as Murrayfield marks 100 years this year.
“It was very cool,” Wassell said in a Scottish Rugby-produced video clip as she reflected on the moment that occurred in front of a sold-out crowd of over 67,000.
“I get butterflies just watching Scotland men play in the Six Nations from the stand, so to be able to be a part of things by taking the match ball on with Julie was a great honour and one I’ll always remember.”
She added on Instagram: “A hugely special moment being part of the match ball delivery at a full Scottish Gas Murrayfield for Scotland’s last home game of the men’s Six Nations for a game that will forever remind us of the great Doddie Weir and what a contest to do his memory proud.
“Being a small part of a big day for Scottish rugby was an honour and I know I would of had two ecstatic parents looking down on me.
“Lovely to be alongside Julie, the granddaughter of JB Nelson who was the first ever Scotland try scorer at Murrayfield back in 1925, too.”
Loughborough Lightning player Wassell, who took to the pitch sporting a My Name’5 Doddie charity tartan scarf and is from Ellon originally, spent nearly two weeks in hospital after a tumour in her chest was discovered during Scotland’s pre-season training block in August.
She then had one operation before a second, a full sternotomy, came in November.
In December she announced that her five-month battle was over and, since then, she has slowly been working her way back to things with the help of her club and the national team medics and backroom staffs and is in and around the Scotland squad just now as they continue to prepare for their own Six Nations which start on March 22.
That competition will come too soon for her, but she hopes to be back playing later in 2025.
Scotland women are into their third three-day training camp just now and then from WC March 17 it’ll be all eyes on – and full steam ahead – for their own Six Nations 2025.
Scotland women’s training squad (number of caps in brackets, uncapped players in bold)
Forwards
Leah Bartlett – Leicester Tigers (38)
Christine Belisle – Loughborough Lightning (40)
Becky Boyd – Loughborough Lightning (uncapped)
Sarah Bonar – Harlequins (42)
Elliann Clarke – Bristol Bears (15)
Hollie Cunningham – Bristol Bears (uncapped)
Evie Gallagher – Bristol Bears (31)
Adelle Ferrie – Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars (uncapped)
Jade Konkel – Harlequins (66)
Rachel Malcolm – Loughborough Lightning (52, C)
Elis Martin – Loughborough Lightning (15)
Rachel McLachlan – Montpellier (46)
Aila Ronald – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
Molly Poolman – Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonians (uncapped)
Lana Skeldon – Bristol Bears (74)
Alex Stewart – Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars (8)
Anne Young – Loughborough Lightning (15)
Molly Wright – Sale Sharks (23)
Backs
Leia Brebner-Holden – Loughborough Lightning (5)
Beth Blacklock – Saracens (3)
Rhea Clarke – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
Rhona Lloyd – Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais (52)
Caity Mattinson – Trailfinders Women (27)
Francesca McGhie – Leicester Tigers (17)
Liz Musgrove – Trailfinders Women (18)
Helen Nelson – Loughborough Lightning (65, V-C)
Rachel Philipps – Sale Sharks – (uncapped)
Chloe Rollie – Trailfinders Women (70)
Lucia Scott – Edinburgh Rugby/Gloucester-Hartpury (3)
Emma Orr – Bristol Bears (24)
Lisa Thomson – Trailfinders Women (64)
Hannah Walker – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
Evie Wills – Leicester Tigers (3)
Meg Varley – Bristol Bears (uncapped)
Day trainers invited into camp to support their development (all uncapped)
Forwards
Talei Tawake – Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonians
Holland Bogan – Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County
Natasha Logan – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh
Emily Coubrough – Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh
Backs
Hannah Ramsay – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh
Poppy Mellanby – Glasgow Warriors/Biggar
Thanks to Scottish Rugby/SNS for the photo from Saturday
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