Gary Heatly in Manchester
Garioch’s rugby players are feeling in fine fettle ahead of their trip to play Stirling County in the Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership on Sunday after they met the reigning Rugby World Cup champions New Zealand at the weekend.
The Kellands Road outfit’s captain Jodie Dalgarno has worked for Altrad Sparrows for the last four years and has been working with them to develop a partnership with Garioch to promote corporate social responsibility and support women’s rugby locally in Inverurie and beyond.
“Altrad are extremely passionate about rugby and continue to support Garioch women in as many ways possible through funding, branding and kit, but most importantly creating opportunities for the team to experience unique and exclusive events,” Dalgarno explained.
“As a result, at the weekend we were in York for a World Cup experience with the Black Ferns from New Zealand.
“We were invited to attend an exclusive event on Saturday when we were at their captain’s run watching their final training session before their game with Spain Sunday.
“The girls then got the chance to watch them perform the Haka before having the opportunity to chat to the New Zealand squad members after as well as creating some social media content with them along with getting photos and getting some shirts and other gear signed.
“We were then invited to attend the New Zealand versus Spain match on Sunday at the York Community Stadium and we had some of the best seats in the stadium before meeting the ladies again at the end of the game to finish up an amazing weekend.”
New Zealand defeated Spain 54-8 with a bonus point in that Pool C game and the 2022 champion Black Ferns, along with England, are the favourites to be at Allianz Stadium Twickenham for the World Cup final on September 27.
Meanwhile, the 38-8 bonus point win against Wales at the weekend at the Salford Community Stadium 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 in Manchester on Saturday, there is a meeting with world number two Canada in Exeter on September 6.
The Scotland matchday 23 for Fiji is due to be named on Thursday.
Scotland Women’s Rugby World Cup squad
Forwards: Leah Bartlett, Becky Boyd, Sarah Bonar, Elliann Clarke, Lisa Cockburn, Eva Donaldson, Evie Gallagher, Adelle Ferrie, Jade Konkel, Rachel Malcolm (C), Elis Martin, Rachel McLachlan, Molly Poolman, Lana Skeldon, Alex Stewart, Emma Wassell, Molly Wright, Anne Young.
Backs: Leia Brebner-Holden, Beth Blacklock, Rhea Clarke, Coreen Grant, Rhona Lloyd, Caity Mattinson, Francesca McGhie, Helen Nelson, Emma Orr, Hannah Ramsay, Chloe Rollie, Lisa Thomson, Hannah Walker, Evie Wills.
Garioch members are pictured meeting the Black Ferns – thanks to Gareth Falls and the Garioch club for the photos
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.