Feature Articles

WXV 2 build up: Scots tapping into other sports to try and give them that extra edge

 

Gary Heatly

We often hear how athletes can learn from those who play different sports to themselves and ahead of the Scotland-Spain match this coming weekend the national women’s rugby team have been doing just that.

Last week when Bryan Easson’s squad were training at Oriam on the outskirts of Edinburgh ahead of the game at the Hive Stadium, Pedro Martinez Losa’s Scotland women’s national football team were there too.

They were preparing for their Nations League matches with England in Sunderland last Friday and then their home match with Belgium on Tuesday [resulting in a 2-1 loss and a 1-1 draw].

The two squads took the chance between training sessions to mingle and chat about the highs and lows of top level sport as women’s rugby and football continue to grow apace.

“Meeting the Scotland women’s football team was amazing,” Scotland winger Rhona Lloyd said from camp this week.

“There are not a lot of professional female athletes in Scotland, so to have 60 or so of them in the same room was pretty cool.

“It was incredible and they have been on the same journey as us, having the highs of qualifying for big events and the lows of not qualifying for the same events, so it was interesting to pick their brains and both sides are on an exciting trajectory.”

Second-row Sarah Bonar added:  “It was really good to chat to them last week.

“They go through all the same highs and lows as we do for Scotland and it was just really good to get their perspective on things and we took plenty away from it.”

Over the summer, Bonar was also at Lord’s watching England’s women play cricket because one of her best friends from her university days is Lauren Winfield-Hill.

She has played Test, One Day International and T20 international cricket for her country as well as appearing in The Hundred and such like.

“Lauren has been quite a big help for me in terms of international performance, if I am struggling or on a high then I can share that with her and she gets it from that point of view,” Bonar stated.

“She isn’t that close to rugby, so she offers a different perspective and that is needed sometimes.”

Scotland go into the Spain game looking to build on the wins over Italy and Ireland in April at the end of the TikTok Women’s Six Nations.

Next week the squad will then head off to South Africa for WXV 2 where they will take on the hosts, USA and Japan during October.

The matchday 23 to play Spain is due to be named on Thursday.

Scotland squad:

Forwards

 Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers)

Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning)

Sarah Bonar (Harlequins)

Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears)

Lisa Cockburn (University of Worcester Warriors)

Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers)

Evie Gallagher (University of Worcester Warriors)

Jade Konkel (Harlequins)

Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning, C)

Elis Martin (Leicester Tigers)

Fiona McIntosh (Saracens)

Rachel McLachlan (Sale Sharks)

Louise McMillan (Saracens)

Lana Skeldon (University of Worcester Warriors)

Demi Swann (University of Worcester Warriors)

Emma Wassell (Loughborough Lightning)

Anne Young (Sale Sharks)

Backs

Beth Blacklock (Saracens)

Coreen Grant (Saracens)

Caity Mattinson (University of Worcester Warriors)

Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs)

Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers)

Holly McIntyre (University of Edinburgh)

Rhona Lloyd (GB Sevens/Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais)

Liz Musgrove (Ealing Trailfinders)

Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning, V-C)

Emma Orr (Heriot’s/Biggar)

Lisa Thomson (GB Sevens)

Chloe Rollie (Loughborough Lightning)

Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears)

Match tickets are on sale now for the Spain Test at Hive Stadium on September 30 at 5.45pm, click here to secure some…

Keep an eye out on GH Media’s channels for Scotland women’s coverage up to and through to the end of WXV 2 in October…

Thanks to Scottish Rugby’s social media feeds and Sarah Bonar’s Instagram for the photos