Coming out of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Francesca McGhie was the most talked about Scotland star after they made it to the quarter-final stage at the showpiece event in England won by the hosts.
The 22-year-old winger from East Lothian was on fire for the Scots during the tournament in August and September, setting the tone with a blistering hat-trick of tries in the 38-8 opening pool win over ales.
She then backed that up with two more tries against Fiji as Scotland battled though 29-15 and then scored one in the 40-19 loss to Canada.
McGhie could not add to her tally against England in the 40-8 last eight reverse, but after those scores, 34 runs and 10 clean breaks she had made her mark o the biggest stage of all.
Before the World Cup it was announced that McGhie, the former Watsonians player, would be joining Trailfinders Women from PWR rivals Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2025/26 domestic campaign after two seasons with the latter.
The Trailfinders lost their opening league game to Exeter Chiefs 24-12 at home in round one as McGhie made her debut, but the team and the player bounced back in round three after a bye in round two.
In round three last weekend they won 64-22 with a bonus point at Sale Sharks despite Scot Rhona Lloyd bagging a hat-trick for the home side.
In that impressive triumph, McGhie scored her first Trailfinders’ try – and you get the feeling it might be the first of many for the Ealing-based outfit.
“Fran has been the up-and-coming player for us in Scotland for a couple of years now and at the World Cup she just showed a wider audience why we are so excited about her,” Rachel Malcolm, another new Trailfinder and the Scotland captain, said.
“The Tigers weren’t necessarily always on the front foot last season in the PWR, but she was one of their standout players and that shows that she’s a winger who looks for work and who creates something out of nothing.
“Her finishing ability has gone from strength-to-strength, she is as confident as I’ve ever seen her and I think she’ll be absolutely phenomenal for us at Trailfinders this season.”
McGhie now has 16 tries in just 26 Scotland caps and is one of the 28 players named on Thursday who are being fully supported financially by Scottish Rugby during 2025/26.
She has been named to start in Saturday’s round four PWR clash with Bristol Bears on Saturday and Trailfinders head coach Barney Maddison added: “Fran is a hugely exciting talent with incredible potential.
“She’s already proven herself at the international level, and her speed, agility and attacking instincts will be a great asset for us going forward.
“She is a fantastic player. She was somebody who we obviously identified last year and we watched her closely at the Tigers.
“We knew that she would fit right into the attacking style that we like to play and, after a brilliant World Cup, we are just glad she is in our squad.”
Francesca McGhie is pictured with Trailfinders Women team mate Meg Jones – thanks to the Trailfinders Women website
From November 14 to December 14, GH Media will be featuring on all aspects of women’s rugby in Scotland including the exciting conclusion to the domestic Premiership, news on Scots playing down south and lots more during a busy month.