A 27-player Scotland women’s under-21 squad is in Italy for a week-long camp which will include training games against Wales and Italy.
The week marks the final camp of the calendar year for the under-21s, with the key focus being on bringing the squad together in L’Aquila to continue progression and development.
At the end of the trip, Scotland will face Wales and Italy in back-to-back 40-minute contests this coming Saturday.
The squad consists of National Academy Players and Scottish Qualified players.
Claire Cruikshank, Scottish Rugby’s National Academy manager in the women’s pathway system, is on the trip acting as head coach and said: “This is a great opportunity to further show off the great work within our programme and provide the players with a chance to train in a high performance environment alongside other nations that we’re familiar with.
“The trip provides them with a week to be together and further develop bonds with each other and staff, but it will also continue the progression of their individual development before we start the new calendar year and prepare for competitive on pitch action in 2027.”
Scotland women’s under-21s Tri-Nations squad:
Forwards
Ellie Moffat – Glasgow Warriors/Edinburgh University
Talei Tawake – Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonians
Libby Naughton – Cardiff Metropolitan University
Megan Hyland – Glasgow Warriors/Heriot’s
Emily Barber – Newcastle University
Isla Gillan – Glasgow Warriors/Hillhead Jordanhill
Ellen Nimmo – Edinburgh Rugby/Edinburgh University
Lottie Russell – Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonians
Aisla Merryweather – Harlequins/Surrey University
Layla Mitchell – Glasgow Warriors/Heriot’s
Pip Sutherland – Exeter University
Scarlet Down – Eailing Trailfinders/Brunel University
Gemma Thomson – Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County
Cat Moody – Edinburgh Rugby/Edinburgh University
Juliet Ramsay – Biggar
Backs
Grace Eathorne – Loughborough University
Tamzin Rosie – Edinburgh Rugby/Heriot’s
Niamh Waters – Edinburgh Rugby/Edinburgh University
Lucy MacRae – Edinburgh Rugby/Edinburgh University
Katherine Bird – Loughborough University
Lisa Brown – Edinburgh Rugby/Edinburgh University
Bethan Mathieson – Edinburgh Rugby/Heriot’s
Scarlett Haddow – Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County
Lucy Giles – Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow University
Emily Norval – Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County
Poppy Mellanby – Glasgow Warriors/Edinburgh University
Hannah Smyth – Gloucester Hartpury/Hartpury University
Squad member Lisa Brown is pictured – thanks to Scottish Rugby
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