New Scotland Women’s under-20 head coach Louise Dalgliesh has announced an extended training squad as preparations begin for the upcoming Six Nations Women’s Summer Series.
Former Scotland international Dalgliesh was confirmed as the head coach for the 2025 under-20 programme on May 12 and will be assisted by former England player Tamara Taylor and men’s Premiership winning coach Matty Douglas.
Dalgliesh has taken over from Claire Cruikshank who is now in a full-time role as female performance pipeline lead coach with Scottish Rugby and Edinburgh Rugby where she is head coach for the Celtic Challenge side.
The coaches have already been busy and have selected a group of 35 players will assemble for a comprehensive series of residential and non-residential training camps in the lead-up to the competition.
The series will provide a crucial development opportunity for emerging talent and a platform to build on last year’s performances at under-20 level.
Details of the Six Nations Women’s Summer Series fixtures and locations will be confirmed in due course. Last year some overage players were allowed and, looking at this extended training squad list, this looks like being the case again this time around.
Dalgliesh said: “We’re really excited by this group of players who all have a lot of experience playing in performance environments whether that be through Vodafone Regional Training Centres, through the Celtic Challenge, BUCS Super Rugby or previous age-grade international representation.
“That gives us a level of readiness for what’s to come with the competition, but I believe this group has much more space to grow.
“We’re looking forward to being able to kick on in our preparations through our training camps. They will give the players time to pull together on and off the field, and us as coaches the chance to get our messages across and start shaping how we want the team to play.”
Among those selected, 16 players were involved with Glasgow Warriors during the 2024/25 Celtic Challenge in the shape of Ceitidh Ainsworth, Poppy Clarkson, Emily Coubrough, Rebekah Douglas, Rianna Darroch, Megan Hyland, Eilidh Fleming, Nicole Flynn, Poppy Fletcher, Emily Norval, Poppy Mellanby, Aicha Sutcliffe, Millie Warren and Aisha Zameer.
A further 10 players featured in the Edinburgh Rugby squad in the same event in the shape of Lisa Brown, Karis Craig, Merryn Gunderson, Emily Love, Lucy MacRae, Nicole Marlow, Holly McIntyre, Megan Riach, Charlotte Russell, Faye Sutherland.
The squad also boasts continuity from previous campaigns, with 11 players having participated in the 2024 Six Nations Summer Series in Italy in the shape of Ceitidh Ainsworth, Lucy MacRae, Megan Hyland, Poppy Fletcher, Poppy Clarkson, Eilidh Fleming, Karis Craig, Merryn Gunderson, Nicole Marlow, Nicole Flynn and Rebekah Douglas.
- Four University of Edinburgh players – Aila Ronald, Natasha Logan, Emily Coubrough and Hannah Walker – are in the Women’s BUCS Super Rugby Team of the Season along with full Scotland cap Lucia Scott of Hartpury.
Scotland Women’s under-20 extended training squad
Backs
Ceitidh Ainsworth (Stirling County)*
Lisa Brown (University of Edinburgh)*
Rianna Darroch (Hillhead Jordanhill)*
Rebekah Douglas (Stirling County)*
Nicole Flynn (University of Edinburgh)*
Scarlett Haddow (Stirling County)*
Emily Love (Corstorphine Cougars)*
Freya MacColl (Loughborough University)
Lucy MacRae (University of Edinburgh)*
Nicole Marlow (Cardiff Met University)
Holly McIntyre (University of Edinburgh)*
Poppy Mellanby (Biggar)*
Emily Norval (Stirling County)*
Morven Thomson (Heriot’s)
Millie Warren (Hillhead Jordanhill)
Forwards
Poppy Clarkson (Biggar)*
Emily Coubrough (University of Edinburgh)*
Karis Craig (Watsonians)*
Lily Crisp (Loughborough University)
Erin Croke (Sacred Heart University)
Eilidh Fleming (Stirling County)*
Poppy Fletcher (University of Edinburgh)*
Merryn Gunderson (Corstorphine Cougars)*
Megan Hyland (Garioch)*
Kaylee McHugh (Ealing Trailfinders)
Sophie Price (Hillhead Jordanhill)*
Megan Riach (Garioch)*
Charlotte Russell (Watsonians)*
Aicha Sutcliffe (Stirling County)
Faye Sutherland (Corstorphine Cougars)*
Louise Taperell (West of Scotland)*
Gemma Thomson (Stirling County)*
Isobel Twigger (Brunel University)
Holly Wilson (Biggar)*
Aisha Zameer (Hillhead Jordanhill)
*Vodafone Regional Training Centre supported player
Emily Norval is pictured – thanks to Glasgow Warriors/SNS
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