Lisa Thomson cannot wait to round off a dream couple of weeks by earning a 50th Scotland cap on Sunday afternoon in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations versus France.
Having taken up the offer of a GB Sevens contract late last year, centre Lisa was unavailable for rounds one and two of the showpiece XVs tournament pre-Easter, but is back in the fold as the team look for their first win in Vannes.
It will be a very tricky test against the world’s number three side in the Stade de la Rabine, but Lisa for one has her tail up.
That is because the 25-year-old from Hawick helped GB secure a bronze medal at the Hong Kong Sevens 14 days ago and then was the first female ever inducted into the Melrose Sevens Hall of Fame last Thursday.
“It has been a really busy time, but a good time,” Lisa, who is into the starting XV along with No.8 Jade Konkel-Roberts and winger Liz Musgrove, said.
“Now I am excited to get back and play some XVs and I’m enjoying being around the girls again.
“It was hard watching the first two games. I was actually in bed in Hong Kong when the team were playing Wales last time out because it was the middle of the night, I just had to watch it quietly on my iPad.
“There were definitely positives in that game, so we are just looking to put everything together this weekend.”
Lisa, who went to the Tokyo Olympics with GB, made her Scotland debut aged 18 in 2016 and added: “The sport has moved on so much and back then I didn’t know too much about the women’s game, I was just chucked in and was playing rugby off the cuff.
“I feel like I have learnt so much about myself, about my team mates and about international rugby since then – it has been a mad few years.
“I always wanted to be a rugby player as my job, it wasn’t an opportunity then, but it is now and that’s great.”
Lisa’s biggest supporter over the years has been her mum Susan.
She will not be in the stadium in France, but will be cheering on from home.
“That is all she has been asking me recently, when will I play for Scotland again,” Lisa joked.
“She is super proud and she is so excited for me and hopefully the family can get along to the DAM Health next week and watch us at home [versus Italy].”
The France match kicks-off at 3.15pm UK time and is live on BBC Scotland.
Scotland: Chloe Rollie; Liz Musgrove, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Caity Mattinson; Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon, Christine Belisle, Lyndsay O’Donnell, Louise McMillan, Rachel Malcolm (C), Evie Gallagher, Jade Konkel-Roberts. Subs: Jodie Rettie, Anne Young, Elliann Clarke, Eva Donaldson, Rachel McLachlan, Mairi McDonald, Meryl Smith, Coreen Grant.
Keep an eye out on GH Media’s channels for comprehensive coverage of all things Scotland throughout the TikTok Women’s Six Nations…
Lisa Thomson is pictured training in France via the Scottish Rugby Twitter feed