In terms of exciting rugby journeys, Emily Norval’s over the last two years certainly takes a bit of beating.
Although she had been around rugby in her youth with her dad Jim and uncle Malcolm playing for Stirling County, hockey was the main sport for Dollar Academy pupil Norval until the summer of 2023.
The 19-year-old, this week named as one of the four-strong leadership group for the Scotland under-20 squad that will be taking on the Six Nations Women’s Summer Series in the coming weeks – takes up the story: “I grew up in a rugby family, my dad is rugby daft and he played rugby as well, in fact he still plays.
“So, I’d always grown up around rugby, but then a couple of years ago I went to a Touch tournament that my dad was playing in and I was like ‘oh, this is actually really fun’.
“One of the Stirling County under-18 coaches at the time, Mark Reid, was there and he asked me if I’d like to head down to Bridgehaugh and give rugby a go.
“I did it and I absolutely loved it straight away.
“I’ve just kind of caught the bug and don’t want to stop. I played a season for the County under-18s and then, in 2024/25, I stepped up to the County senior women’s team and it was great that the head coach Mark Ainsworth and all of the players backed me at that level.
“I had to learn quickly because you have to go looking for the ball as a winger/back three level in senior rugby and in the Premiership, but I scored a few tries and we got to the league final.
“Then I really did not expect the Glasgow Warriors call up, but to play some Celtic Challenge games in the second half of the season just gone was brilliant and has given me confidence now stepping into this under-20s environment.”
Norval, who has just completed first year at Stirling University studying sport and exercise science, played for Scotland under-18s at the Six Nations Festival in Colwyn Bay in 2024.
And now she is back in Wales, this time in Ystrad Mynach, with the under-20s for matches at the Centre for Sporting Excellence facility versus England on July 5 (6pm), the hosts on July 11 (6pm) and Ireland on July 17 (1pm).
Norval has clearly taken to rugby like a duck to water after only starting to play aged 17 and was honoured to be asked to be part of the four-strong leadership group for the event by head coach Louise Dalgliesh alongside 21-year-olds Poppy Fletcher and Merryn Gunderson and fellow 19-year-old Nicole Flynn.
She has been named to start in the opening game with England on the wing and proud dad Jim will be there watching along with her mum.
“Dad’s my biggest fan,” Norval, a Vodafone Regional Training Centre supported player, concluded.
“My mum and dad are coming down to watch and that means a lot to me.”
Each country is allowed up to five overage (U23) players in their matchday 23s. The five in the 30-strong Scotland squad are Fletcher, Gunderson, Aisha Zameer, Ceitidh Ainsworth and Holly McIntyre.
Scotland supporters will be able to follow every moment of the action from the Summer Series as all matches will be streamed live on the Six Nations under-20 YouTube channel and the Scottish Rugby website.
Scotland under-20 squad for the England game
Nicole Flynn (V-C); Emily Norval, Holly McIntyre, Lucy MacRae, Lisa Brown; Ceitidh Ainsworth, Rianna Darroch; Poppy Fletcher, Aicha Sutcliffe, Eilidh Fleming, Charlotte Russell, Aisha Zameer, Lily Crisp, Isobel Twigger, Merryn Gunderson (C). Subs: Megan Hyland, Kaylee McHugh, Faye Sutherland, Holly Wilson, Gemma Thomson, Rebekah Douglas, Poppy Mellanby, Freya MacColl.
Scotland’s under-20 squad for the Six Nations Women’s Summer Series
Forwards: Emily Coubrough, Karis Craig, Lily Crisp, Eilidh Fleming, Poppy Fletcher, Merryn Gunderson, Megan Hyland, Kaylee McHugh, Sophie Price, Megan Riach, Charlotte Russell, Aicha Sutcliffe, Faye Sutherland, Louise Taperell, Gemma Thomson, Isobel Twigger, Holly Wilson, Aisha Zameer.
Backs: Ceitidh Ainsworth, Lisa Brown, Rianna Darroch, Rebekah Douglas, Nicole Flynn, Scarlett Haddow, Emily Love, Freya MacColl, Lucy MacRae, Holly McIntyre, Poppy Mellanby, Emily Norval.
Tickets for Scotland-England at Murrayfield in April 2026 can be purchased here.
Emily Norval is pictured playing for Stirling County – thanks to ST Photography
GH Media has covered Scotland women’s journey to this point and will be covering Scotland women’s journey right through to the end of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, bringing insight from within the camp throughout and featuring other parts of the game in this country too – thanks to those already supporting the content, if you or your company would like to get involved please email gary@gh-media.co.uk