Scotland under-20 head coach Louise Dalgliesh has backed the four-strong leadership group she has named for the upcoming Six Nations Women’s Summer Series to flourish, stating that they “all connect really well with the entire squad”.
It has been a whirlwind couple of months for former Scotland cap Dalgliesh who was confirmed as heading up this programme for 2025 on May 12 and then named a 35-strong training squad on May 16.
She brought former England player Tamara Taylor and men’s Premiership winning coach Matty Douglas on board and, since then, they have been working hard to get to know the players and had a training hit out with Wales.
On Tuesday, Dalgliesh confirmed the 30-strong squad that will be travelling to Wales for the second ever playing of the Summer Series with Nicole Marlow (Cardiff Met University), Morven Thomson (Heriots Rugby), Millie Warren (Hillhead Jordanhill), Poppy Clarkson (Biggar RFC) and Erin Croke (Sacred Heart University) the unlucky ones to miss out.
After it was in Italy last year, the event is being held at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Wales, this time around with three competitive match days on July 5, July 11 and July 17.
Scotland take on England on matchday one at 6pm, Wales on matchday two at 6pm and Ireland on matchday three at 1pm and with five ‘overage’ under-23 players allowed in the squads of 30 – and in the matchday squads of 23 – there promises to be some great action ahead.
The five overage (U23) players in the Scotland squad are Poppy Fletcher, Aisha Zameer, Merryn Gunderson, Ceitidh Ainsworth and Holly McIntyre.
Loosehead prop Fletcher, 21 and back-row Gunderson, 21, have been named as part of Scotland’s four-strong leadership group for the event along with backs Nicole Flynn, 19, and Emily Norval, 19.
They will take ownership of captaincy duties both on and off the pitch for the duration of the competition and Dalgliesh said: “I have gone with a leadership group rather than a captain or co-captains.
“I am pretty new to the group, so there has been a lot of observations in the last couple of months around the dynamics in the group and how they work and I think each of the four in the leadership group bring something a little bit different and complement each other well.
“They all connect really well with the entire squad and I think with myself and the other coaches having come in a couple of months ago it is important to use them as a sounding board between the management and the playing group.
“We are trying to build on the great connections that are already here among the squad and the more we can do that alongside these four leaders the better.
“Spreading and sharing the leadership among these four players will help them all evolve as people and as players and that is hugely exciting.”
Nine of the squad were involved last year in this event while 23 of the group have Celtic Challenge experience and many of them played for the national under-18s last year and/or this year.
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’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.
The Scotland under-20 leadership group are pictured as is Louise Dalgliesh
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