Gary Heatly in Manchester
The Dalkeith Ladies squad had a great trip to Manchester last weekend to watch Scotland defeat Wales in the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
The Midlothian side won the Arnold Clark Women’s East Midlands Aspiring League early in 2024/25 and then, on the back pitches at Murrayfield, they backed it up by winning the women’s national Bowl as they defeated Strathaven 43-12 in the final in April.
As a result, they are heading into the 2025/26 campaign in fine fettle and that is even more so the case after their trip to the Salford Community Stadium to see Rachel Malcolm’s charges beat Wales with a bonus point in Pool B last Saturday.
Amy Macnamara, the Dalkeith Ladies skipper, said: “We were absolutely buzzing to head down from Dalkeith to Manchester to cheer on Scotland Women in the Rugby World Cup.
“As a club, our ladies team put their hearts into every training session and match, but what unites us just as much is our pride in Scottish rugby.
“To be there in person, standing shoulder to shoulder and watching Scotland take on Wales – and see them come away with the win – was something really special.
“Supporting Dalkeith Ladies is at the core of what we do week in, week out, but seeing our national team on the world stage reminds us why we love this sport.
“The energy, the passion, the determination, it’s everything we try to bring to our own game and it makes us so proud to wear the Dalkeith colours.
“For us, this weekend wasn’t just about watching a match, it was about being part of a wider rugby family.
“For example we made friends with a ladies team from Luxembourg who were sat beside us and we are now planning next year’s trip where Dalkeith will take on Walfendange ladies team – who are the first and only female XVs team in their country – and we have made friends for life.
“We love celebrating the growth of women’s rugby and showing our players what’s possible. We came home feeling inspired, full of pride for our national side and more motivated than ever to keep pushing forward as a club.
Scotland are taking on Fiji on Saturday at the same Manchester venue (2.45pm, live on BBC Two) while Dalkeith are in action on Sunday away to Livingston in their Caledonia Midlands East Two season opener.
The win over the Welsh now makes Scotland favourites to progress to the quarter-finals from Pool B behind likely group winners Canada. That would mean a probable knock-out tie with world number one side England on September 14.
However, there is a lot of rugby to be played before then and, after Fiji, there is a meeting with world number two Canada in Exeter on September 6.
- Scottish Rugby is proud to launch a comprehensive suite of health and wellness resources designed specifically for women and girls, coinciding with Scotland’s campaign in the World Cup.
Scotland squad to play Fiji: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Leah Bartlett, Elis Martin, Elliann Clarke, Emma Wassell, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (C), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher. Subs: Molly Wright, Anne Young, Lisa Cockburn, Adelle Ferrie, Eva Donaldson, Alex Stewart, Caity Mattinson, Beth Blacklock.
The Fiji matchday 23 is here.
The Dalkeith Ladies are pictured at the Salford Community Stadium last weekend
From August 7 until September 30, GH Media will be following the Scotland World Cup journey all of the way. We will be at all of the Scotland matches down south and will be bringing you all of the interviews and news from camp as well as taking a wider look at the tournament as a whole and its impact on the women’s game. Thanks to Quirky Chocolate and other supporters for allowing this content to happen and to readers for engaging with it.