One of the best things about following sporting teams is seeing the next generation of players coming through.
For us ‘oldies’ it can mean our hair going even more grey when you realise that players who were born just before or after 2000 are now involved in top level internationals!
However, the positives far outweigh the negatives and the Scotland Women’s team has a number of young guns breaking into the squad for the 2019 Six Nations.
It is perhaps no surprise, given that skipper Lisa Thomson is still just 21, that head coach Shade Munro is keen to blood some new talent as things build towards the 2021 World Cup qualification process.
Their Six Nations campaign begins on Friday night at Scotstoun against Italy (7.35pm, on BBC ALBA), so who are the young up-and-comers to keep an eye on.
Three young guns to watch
Rachel McLachlan
She only has three caps under her belt and does not turn 20 until later this month, but McLachlan has made quite an impact in a short space of time. A natural seven who likes to be in the heart of action, her background was in judo and that competitive spirit has certainly not dimmed – a real ‘pocket rocket’.
Sophie Anderson
The 20-year-old previously played football and only took up rugby in 2017 – when she played on the wing for Garioch – but now she has settled in the second-row and has potential. Anderson, who now plays for Hillhead Jordanhill, came off the bench for a debut in Spain in January and made a couple of good carries – more of the same to come hopefully.
Nicola Howat
She made her debut in last year’s Six Nations and has been in and around the squad since. Another second-row, the 21-year-old played very well in Spain and looked more confident at this level. Howat played for Bell Baxter High School and Howe of Fife and now turns out for Edinburgh University where she studies.
Scotland squad
15 Chloe Rollie (Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvios)
14 Liz Musgrove (Hong Kong RFC)
13 Hannah Smith (Hillhead/Jordanhill)
12 Lisa Thomson (Darlington Mowden Park, C)
11 Annabel Sergeant (Heriots Rugby Club)
10 Helen Nelson (Montpellier)
9 Mhairi Grieve (Firwood Waterloo)
1 Lisa Cockburn (Darlington Mowden Park)
2 Lana Skeldon (Watsonians)
3 Megan Kennedy (Stirling County)
4 Emma Wassell (Heriots Rugby Club)
5 Sarah Bonar (Loughborough Lightning)
6 Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning)
7 Rachel McLachlan (Stirling County)
8 Siobhan Cattigan (Stirling County)
Substitutes:
16 Jodie Rettie (Saracens)
17 Katie Dougan (Gloucester Hartpury)
18 Mairi Forsyth (Stirling County)
19 Sophie Anderson (Hillhead Jordanhill)
20 Nicola Howat (Edinburgh University)
21 Sarah Law (Edinburgh University)gby People for the photos
22 Lisa Martin (Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvios)
23 Rhona Lloyd (Loughborough Lightning)
Thanks to Scottish Rugby/SNS, Mark Brown/Rugby People and Rachel McLachlan for the photos
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