U20 6N WSS: Getting to know… Lucia Scott

Gary Heatly

Lucia has always been a Scott, but during the under-20 Six Nations Women’s Summer Series in Italy she will become a Scot and proud dad Alastair will be in the stands at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi cheering her on.

The former England under-18 cap joined up with the Scotland squad ahead of the event which runs from July 4 to 14 in Parma and she has impressed head coach Claire Cruikshank and backs coach Chris Laidlaw.

Her dad and grandparents have links to the Glasgow area before they moved south so that makes Lucia qualified to wear the thistle and she cannot wait to having been named to start at full-back versus Italy in the opening game.

“My dad and his parents are all fully Scottish and the family are all very proud and my dad is buzzing to get the chance to watch me play Italy and beyond in the tournament and it’s great that he will be here to see me,” the 20-year-old Gloucester-Hartpury player said.

“I think it is going to be a special day playing against Italy and playing throughout this tournament.

“I had a really good run with the England under-18s and it was a really good run for me, I think I was a bit unlucky in terms of timing with a few injuries.

“I have been so lucky to have Scotland trying to pick me up and get me involved with this under-20s set up and to be part of this experience is brilliant.

“The girls have been absolutely amazing since I started coming in for camps and I feel like I have fitting in pretty well which is nice.

“Training has been going really well and now we are all excited to play together as a team.”

Lucia began her rugby career at Bicester Rugby Club in 2008, remaining there until 2015 before joining Witney Rugby Club and latterly Gosford Rugby Club.

In recent times she has been studying at Hartpury College and Hartpury University and has been with top flight English club Gloucester-Hartpury.

Both the university and the club have had great rugby success over the last couple of years and Lucia, who has also played stand-off and centre, explained:  “Being part of the Hartpury set up and playing regular BUCS top level rugby has been absolutely amazing for me, it has been such a great experience. Being in that environment has pushed my game on and has benefitted me in so many ways on and off the pitch.

“The Hartpury pathway has been described as one of the best women’s rugby pathways in the world and the interchange between college, university and then getting involved with Gloucester-Hartpury really helps development and it certainly has helped me.”

As a youngster, like many, she tried lots of sports and was a handy winger on the football field into her teens until she had to decide between that and rugby.

In terms of wearing the number 15 shirt and playing at full-back she added:  “It is a position where you get loads of open space and lots of free reign to see what’s in front of you and make decisions and that is why I enjoy the position.”

Scotland play Italy on July 4 at 8pm UK time, France on July 9 at 5.30pm and Ireland on July 14 at 9am.

The Scottish fixtures will be available to watch via scottishrugby.org, with all remaining matches available on the Six Nations Rugby YouTube channels.

Scotland matchday 23 to play Italy

15.Lucia Scott (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury)

14. Sky Phimister (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)

13. Nicole Flynn (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby)

12. Lucy MacRae (University of Edinburgh/Glasgow Warriors)

11. Hannah Walker (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby, C-C)

10. Ceitidh Ainsworth (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)

9. Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester Hartpury/Edinburgh Rugby)

1. Poppy Fletcher (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby, C-C)

2. Aila Ronald (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby)

3. Eilidh Fleming (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)

4. Holland Bogan (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)

5. Natasha Logan (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby)

6. Merryn Gunderson (Corstorphine Cougars/Edinburgh Rugby)

7. Lauryn Walter (Brunel University/Ealing Trailfinders)

8. Megan Hyland (Garioch/Glasgow Warriors)

Subs

16. Karis Craig (Watsonian FC/Glasgow Warriors)

17. Chloe Brown (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)

18. Molly Poolman (Watsonian FC/Edinburgh Rugby)

19. Talei Tawake (Watsonian FC)

20. Gemma Bell (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury/Edinburgh Rugby)

21. Rebekah Douglas (Corstorphine Cougars/Glasgow Warriors)

22. Hannah Ramsay (Unattached/Edinburgh Rugby)

23. Nicole Marlow (Cardiff Metropolitan University/Edinburgh Rugby)

Lucia Scott is pictured, thanks to Scottish Rugby/SNS for the image

During the under-20 Six Nations Women’s Summer Series period through July, GH Media will be covering all aspects of the tournament…

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