Gary Heatly in Manchester
We all know it was a great Saturday for Rachel Macolm, Francesca McGhie and Co at the Salford Community Stadium last weekend, but it was also a great day for 12-year-old Merrin Doggett from the Borders.
Merrin has just started S2 at Berwickshire High School in Duns and would certainly have had great stories to tell her class mates on Monday morning.
That is because, as well as getting to watch the Women’s Rugby World Cup win for Scotland over Wales, Merrin was given the honour of taking the match ball out onto the pitch pre-game in front of over 10,000 people in the stadium and with many more watching all over the world on TV.
This opportunity came around after her mum Sara entered Merrin into a ballot as part of a Gallagher rugby competition. She was picked from 16,000 other people from around the world.
She stood on the pitch sidelines and sung the anthems facing the teams, she then walked on with the ball and handed it to the referee.
“When I woke up that morning I felt fine, but then the nerves started,” Merrin, who was accompanied by Sara and dad Mark and nine-year-old sister Talia, said.
“Walking into the stadium for rehearsals when no one was there, it was crazy how big and quiet it was. Later on that day when I was there again and about to go out with the ball, just standing there and seeing everyone watching me was really weird, but awesome and it was great knowing that everyone was there supporting the women’s game.
“Once I was walking out I felt calm, all of the hype led up to that one moment and then it was over in seconds, but if felt so exciting.
“Watching the Scotland girls play is very inspiring. I enjoyed cheering on my favourite player Francesca McGhie scoring a hat-trick of tries. It was a brilliant day.”
Dad Mark said: “For us the whole day was a fantastic experience.
“From getting to watch and meet the Australian and Samoa teams when they came and sat next to us during the Scotland versus Wales game, watching that latter game and Merrin doing her thing made us very proud.
“The energy within the stadium was electric as Scotland went onto win their game. It was a long day as we were in Salford for less than 24 hours, but it was very worth it.”
Merrin started playing rugby after the pandemic when she was eight.
She lives in Chirnside in Berwickshire and she first played in the Minis at Duns rugby club in P5 and P6. At P7 level there was then not enough kids at Duns to make a team, so the decision was made to go into a combo team with Jedburgh Jaguars.
Jed welcomed Merrin and three of her Duns’ team mates with open arms. Sadly, two dropped out and that left Merrin and her best friend Matilda playing with Jed until the end of that season.
Once at high school she and Matilda moved to Kelso girls and they now plays for their under-14s.
She also plays for the Berwickshire High School under-14 team and she and Matilda helped to get girls rugby going at the school.
“The thing I like about playing rugby is the teamwork that comes with it because you always know someone will be there to help you score those tries, make the tackles and push in the scrums,” Merrin added.
“I am more excited to play rugby with my Kelso and Berwickshire High School teams this season and also watching Scotland play in the rest of the World Cup.”
The 38-8 bonus point 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 on Saturday in Manchester, 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.
Merrin Doggett and her family are pictured on her big day – thanks to Merrin’s family
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.