Whoever wears the number 13 jersey for Scotland on Saturday in the big match against England will have “massive shoes to fill” after “world class” Emma Orr was ruled out with a leg injury.
The 23-year-old Biggar product, who now plays for Bristol Bears, suffered the issue last weekend as the Scots won 24-19 in round one of the Women’s Six Nations versus Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Orr, earning her 35th cap, went off in the 54th minute to be replaced by Evie Wills and, on Tuesday morning, was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament in a Scottish Rugby statement.
The exact injury and rehab time has yet to be confirmed, but given that Scotland are already without Anne Young, Sarah Bonar, Evie Gallagher and Lisa Thomson for long spells – and Rachel McLachlan and Francesca McGhie missed the Wales game – squad depth is being tested.
Orr would normally be one of the first names on the Scotland teamsheet and assistant coach Dave Butcher said on Tuesday lunchtime: “Obviously Emma’s not going to be playing this weekend so there’s massive shoes to fill.
“She’s a world class player.
“We’ve just had a final big session just now to look at everybody so, once I’ve finished talking here, as a coaching group we’ll go back into a selection [meeting] just to confirm what we’re thinking [for the weekend].
“Evie Wills has been in the squad as a 13 [and came off the bench in Cardiff] so when we look at the full squad we’ll see who will step in. Evie’s been playing really, really well so I think that would be a natural ‘jumper up’ [into the starting XV] in the squad.
“And whatever changes are made obviously has got to fit with our game plan for England as well which is obviously slightly different to our game plan for Wales.
“Everyone who is here is looking really good at the minute in terms of fitness. In the morning we get a list [of the squad] in terms of the reds, ambers and greens. There’s a lot of greens [fully fit players] at the moment so our medical staff are doing an outstanding job.
“There’s no real major what we’d call injuries at the minute. There is still people working through things and coming back into the game, but things are shaping up pretty well.”
Uncapped Montpellier centre Holly McIntyre, who come through the rugby ranks with local club Ayr, Edinburgh University, the Thistles, Scotland age-grade teams, the Futures and Edinburgh Rugby, has replaced Orr in the 38-strong squad.
She has been in wider squads before, but injuries have hit at the wrong time previously, none more so than when she suffered a serious ACL and meniscus issue with her knee just before WXV 2.
As well as Wills and McIntyre, Rachel Philipps is in the squad and can play 13 while wingers like Shona Campbell, Lucia Scott and Coreen Grant could perhaps move in to outside centre.
The Scotland matchday 23 to play England at Murrayfield on Saturday will be named on Thursday.
- Over 25,000 tickets have been sold for Scotland-England, join in the fun by getting tickets here – before the senior game at 1.30pm at Murrayfield the under-21 sides from both countries are meeting at Hive Stadium at 11am.
Emma Orr playing versus Fiji in last year’s Rugby World Cup – thanks to Scottish Rugby
The Women’s Six Nations is here and the 2026 event runs from April 11 to May 17 and, between April 6 and May 20, GH Media will be covering Scotland’s campaign and the wider tournament – keep an eye out for content and thanks to everyone who supports GH Media’s work within women’s rugby