Hollie Cunningham has made a great impression on her new Scotland squad mates in recent weeks and now she cannot wait to show supporters what she can do too.
Around this time last year the 25-year-old Bristol Bears second-row was actually part of a Red Roses training camp and she has previously played for England at under-18 and 20 levels.
However, once she found out about her grandmother Gwenda Cunningham being from Aberdeen originally the wheels got turning and, fully eligible for the Scots, she was named in head coach Bruan Easson’s squad for the Guinness Women’s Six Nations a few weeks ago.
And the way she has trained and conducted herself in the environment since then has earned her a debut from the start versus Wales at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh on Saturday.
“It has been really good coming into this squad in the last few weeks,” Cunningham said.
“Obviously, there was a bit of a come-down after the semi final loss with Bristol [they lost their PWR play-off last four tie to eventual champions Gloucester-Hartpury].
“With the club we didn’t quite get where we wanted to be, but it was really nice because it was almost like I could park what had happened at Bristol and then look to going forward with Scotland straight away.
“The girls were really good in my first week up here in terms of making sure that I was caught up on detail because I’d missed the first week of training camps for the semis.
“They were really helpful and it’s such a nice environment to come into because it’s very family-orientated and the person comes first in terms of mental well-being.
“And if you have good mental well-being, then you do your best stuff on the pitch.”
Hopefully the crowd at the Hive will get to see Hollie show off her best stuff at the weekend and she will be cheered on by a number of family and friends.
Gran Gwenda cannot be in the capital, but if you live in Weymouth down south you may just hear her screaming at her television as she watches and supports Cunningham.
“When I told her I was going to be involved she was really excited, she kept saying ‘oh brilliant’ which was really cute,” Cunningham said with a smile.
“She won’t be able to make it up, but I’ve promised her I’ll wear a white scrunchie in my hair so she can pick me out on the television.
“I’ve got a nice collective of family and friends coming to support me at the stadium too which is really nice.
“A lot of the girls have asked me how I’m feeling nerves-wise which is kind of them, but I can’t think about it too much or otherwise I get overexcited and I don’t want to peak too early.
“I’m going to go through all my notes, check my game plan, check the team’s game plan, refresh anything that I might not have quite got right in training for the last couple of days and, because it is a slightly later kick-off, I’m then going to start that building process, making sure I’ve got my prep right in terms of food and things like that.
“The nerves are definitely there, they’re simmering, but I’m not going to let them get to boiling point until half four on Saturday.”
While these are exciting times for Cunningham, her flat mate and Bristol Bears team mate has been ruled out of the tournament through injury.
It is the second year in a row that has happened to the uncapped centre/winger and Cunningham said: “Poor little Meg, I really do feel for her as she trains so hard and rehab is often harder than training and playing just because you’re in the gym sometimes by yourself for four or five hours straight trying to tick off all your checklists.
“She’s booked herself a holiday, though, to make herself feel better which I’m so here for and I know she’ll be back up and going in no time as she’s a very stubborn and determined young woman.
“Nothing will stop her, she will pull on the Scotland shirt eventually for sure.”
The Guinness Women’s Six Nations runs from March 22 to April 26 and Scotland start versus Wales at Hive Stadium in round one – get tickets for all three Scotland home games here.
Scotland squad to play Wales: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Anne Young, Lana Skeldon, Elliann Clarke, Hollie Cunningham, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (C), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher. Subs: Elis Martin, Leah Bartlett, Christine Belisle, Adelle Ferrie, Alex Stewart, Jade Konkel, Caity Mattinson, Evie Wills.
Hollie Cunningham is pictured – thanks to Scottish Rugby for the photo
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