Scotland have been handed a big boost with the news that key player Emma Orr is fully fit and is set to be available for the start of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign.
The 21-year-old centre, who came through the ranks at Biggar, had an operation on an ankle injury earlier in the season.
However, Bristol Bears’ heads coach Dave Ward said in January that he hoped she would be back fully fit in time for the PWR play-offs.
And, it sounds like she is with Scotland head Bryan Easson saying last week as he named his 34-strong Six Nations squad: “Emma Orr’s back. She was available last week [around the Bears’ game at Harlequins on February 14], but again we just felt that another week out for her would be the right thing to do.
“So, she’ll be available for Bristol for the semi-finals.”
Bristol are taking on Gloucester-Hartpury in their last four tie this Sunday and, if selected for that one and a potential final on March 16 and there are no many injury issues, then she should be available to earn her 25th international cap versus Wales in the Six Nations opener versus Wales on March 22.
Another player pushing to be involved in that one is Bristol hooker Lana Skeldon.
The 31-year-old with 74 Scottish caps to her name is working hard following a calf injury.
She has not played for her club for a while, but Easson said: “we’re also really happy with the progress that Lana’s making.
“At this moment in time she is training and will potentially be ready for the Wales game on March 22.”
In terms of the three players listed as injured when the Scotland squad was named on February 19, there is an update on Emma Wassell’s positive progress here.
Coreen Grant, the 27-year-old, 15-times capped Saracens’ winger, will miss the whole Six Nations, but could be back in late June.
Easson said: “Coreen had knee surgery recently. She had a long-standing knee injury that had been okay, but every now and again her knee locked out.
“She suffered that injury at Saracens again recently and she’s gone in for surgery. She will miss the Six Nations, she’s aware of that. I think we’re looking at the end of June time for her to come back to full training.
“We’ll assess her, we’ll keep assessing her all the way through.”
Meryl Smith, the 23-year-old, 22-times capped Bristol Bears’ playmaker, suffered an ACL injury during the WXV 2 final game versus Australia in October in South Africa.
She has been rehabbing ever since then down south at her club and Easson stated: “With ACLs, especially with a non-contact ACL, I think the prognosis of that is you err on the side of caution.
“You’d always look at a year [to get back fully fit]. You’d look at 12 months or around that for anything like that.
“And if anything comes before that it’s a real bonus.
“Our medics have been working very hard with Meryl along with Bristol around that rehab and managing expectations is really important.
“The most important thing for her is to get back to health and [make sure] her wellbeing [is good] and then if anything comes before that 12 month period, great.
“But we just want her to work hard and to think of nothing else other than getting herself ready and right again.”
Scotland will have three-day camps this week, WC March 3 and WC March 10 and then from WC March 17 it’ll be all eyes on – and full steam ahead – for the Six Nations 2025.
Everything this year is building up to the Rugby World Cup in England in August and September. The Six Nations runs until April 26.
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
Emma Orr and Lana Skeldon are pictured
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