Bethan Mathieson from Crossford in Fife has good memories of playing rugby at Wellington College in England and this week she is back in Berkshire with the Scotland under-18s.
At the U18 Six Nations Festival, the young Scots will play Italy on Thursday, England and Ireland in 35-minute matches next Monday and Wales on April 10.
Last year, when 18-year-old back three player Mathieson was 17, scored a brilliant try as the team defeated England 21-12 in one of those 35-minute games.
At the time Mathieson said it was an “amazing” feeling and now she wants to make more good memories during this tournament.
Since last year’s event, Mathieson has left Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline and is currently at Edinburgh College studying towards an HNC in health, fitness and exercise which continues into an HND next year.
Having grown up playing all of her club rugby for Dunfermline, in n2025-26 Mathieson has begun her senior journey with Heriot’s in the Arnold Clark Premiership and was then called up to play for Edinburgh Rugby in the recently finished Celtic Challenge competition.
It has been a whirlwind 12 months for her since her last trip to Wellington College and she said: “Moving club teams after so long at Dunfermline was challenging at first, but the move to Heriot’s has been one I’ve enjoyed.
“It has been a step up in intensity and definitely took some getting use too, but a step I’m glad I took.
“And then being part of the Edinburgh Rugby experience has been something I’ll never forget.
“Training at that level of intensity is something I have always wanted and being a part of such an amazing group of players helped to make this experience that much better. Training alongside some internationals and lots of players who have been in high level environments can only help me moving forward.
“I was part of four games this season in the Celtic Challenge which also includes Glasgow Warriors and Welsh and Irish teams.
“I had hoped at the start of the programme to at least be on the bench for one game so to be on the bench for two games and then start two games and score tries in the ones I started is something I could never have imagined.
“In fact, watching the first try I scored back again on video it’s clear to see how much it meant to me.
“During one of the Edinburgh games we were all able to wear our ‘club of origin’ socks and meant a lot to me to be able wear the Dunfermline colours and also run out with younger players from the club who were acting as mascots on the day. I hope I can be a good role model to them and that they enjoy playing at Dunfermline as much as I have.”
Bethan Mathieson is pictured playing for Edinburgh – thanks to Edinburgh Rugby
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