Captain Rachel Malcolm says that Lana Skeldon “wears her heart on her sleeve” and embodies what playing for your country is all about as the latter prepares to reach a Scotland women’s rugby cap milestone on Saturday.
Skeldon, the 32-year-old hooker from Hawick who earned her first international cap in 2011, will be making her 89th appearance for the Scots against second in the world New Zealand in WXV Global Series action at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh (5.10pm, live on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer).
By getting to 89 caps that will put the Bristol Bears player equal second on the Scotland women’s cap list with Heather Lockhart. Donna Kennedy leads the way with 115 caps.
“Lana’s our most experienced player and I think the way that she’s gone about her business, not just in recent times but over such a long period of time, is testament to how much playing for Scotland means to her, it truly is her absolute everything,” Malcolm said of Skeldon.
“She wears her heart on her sleeve, she puts her body on the line game after game and she’s just a brilliant human. She’s not someone that’s necessarily the loudest in the group in terms of leadership, but she definitely leads by example and is a massive part of our team on and off the pitch.
“I think for someone like her, someone who really does embody what playing for Scotland is all about, it’s really cool to see her reach this milestone.”
Second-row Emma Wassell, the 31-year-old who took up the game at Ellon and who first played for her country in 2014, is also set to reach a cap milestone in the clash.
The Trailfinders Women’s player will become just the seventh Scottish female player to hit the 80-cap mark and, paying tribute, back-row Malcolm said: “Emma is nothing short of unique, she is a very, very special person.
“I think she is one of my favourite people in my life as a friend and as a team mate.
“As a team mate and as a rugby player she is just phenomenal.
“I think from what she’s gone through in her personal life and also through injury, to keep going and to keep putting your body on the line and play through a pretty significant amount of pain at times shows just how much it means to her to play for this team.
“She is just so desperate to represent Scotland, represent her family and friends and be a part of this team and she will do anything to make that happen. She will crawl onto that pitch and crawl off it until she isn’t able to anymore and that’s pretty inspirational for some of the young girls coming through.
“She drives a hugely high standard and she pushes everyone around her to be better.
“We are so lucky to have someone like her in our team – she’s one of a kind that’s for sure and it’s great to see her getting to 80 caps.”
Next up in the Vodafone Scotland WXV Series campaign – part of the wider WXV Global Series presented by Mitsubishi Electric featuring the top sides in the world – is New Zealand this coming Saturday and then Scotland are hosting Australia on September 26, both at the Hive.
Scotland’s away WXV Global Series fixtures will take place against Australia on October 17 and October 23.
- Scottish Rugby’s first girls’ under-16 and under-18 Inter-District festival takes place this weekend at Merchiston Castle School.
Lana Skeldon and Emma Wassell are pictured – thanks to Ruby Adam Photography
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