Edinburgh Giants and Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League squad member Olivia Fulton said she had the “most amazing day” delivering the match ball ahead of the Scotland-Canada women’s WXV Global Series clash at Hive Stadium on Saturday.
Olivia was given the honour of heading out onto the pitch just before kick-off to mark her own sporting achievements and she passed the ball to referee Holly Wood in front of a crowd of 2,721.
She wrote on social media: “I had the most amazing day thanks to Sarah and Ollie Cruickshank presenting the match ball at the start of the Scotland versus Canada match and then presenting the player of the match award at the end.
“To be nominated for doing something I love is amazing although hearing ‘my story’ read out on the tannoy did make me think just what a time it has been.
“But then if it hadn’t been through it all I would not have found a sport I possibly love more than any other I have ever played.
“Being able to talk about wheelchair rugby league with players after the game was great and it was surreal to speak to Rachel Malcolm thinking that I was also captain for the Celtic Cup earlier this year and she is captain so we have both done the same role.
“It was such a highlight to hear Ian Duncan speak so passionately too about wheelchair rugby league to players and try to recruit them and get them to give it a go too!”
Ian, who Olivia mentioned, is a young player coming through at the Edinburgh Giants and he was at the Hive with her on the day.
It really was a very special day and I was glad to share it with Ian as a junior player who will be the future of the sport in Scotland.
“I had a great day at the match,” Ian said on social media.
“I was lucky enough to be invited along as a guest, with Olivia who was presenting the match ball, it was my first women’s international and it was brilliant to meet so many lovely players and people.
“Thanks so much for the experience, I really enjoyed it!”
Canada won the game 64-26 and the player of the match was their scrum-half Olivia Apps.
Next up in the Vodafone Scotland WXV Series campaign – part of the wider WXV Global Series presented by Mitsubishi Electric featuring the top sides in the world – is New Zealand this coming Saturday and then Scotland are hosting Australia on September 26, both at the Hive.
Scotland’s away WXV Global Series fixtures will take place against Australia on October 17 and October 23.
Olivia Fulton and Ian Duncan are pictured enjoying their day – thanks to Olivia Fulton Instagram
It is shaping up to be an exciting 2026/27 season for women’s rugby in Scotland and GH Media will be covering it in detail – if any companies are keen to support this content please send an email to gary@gh-media.co.uk