Scotland women’s interim head coach Dave Butcher is backing Hannah Ramsay to make an impact in what will be the biggest game of her career to date on Saturday against Australia.
Usually a stand-off, 23-year-old Watsonians and Edinburgh Rugby player Ramsay has been selected to start at full-back in the important WXV Global Series clash at Hive Stadium in the capital (4.10pm, live on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer).
It will just be Ramsay’s fifth cap – and second start – and she has replaced the experienced Chloe Rollie who is on the bench.
Ahead of the eighth in the world versus ninth clash, Butcher said: “If you look at the history of some of the great 10s and 15s in the Scotland game – both men’s and women’s – and how they have been able to play both positions then Hannah fits that profile.
“She’s a lot faster than she appears because of her stride length and with her at 15 for this game it just gives us a different way of playing as she can facilitate others and create chances, but can still hit gaps herself.
“It’s great to have more options depending on how we want to play the game and we also know we have someone like Chloe Rollie to bring on off the bench if needed and she is great with ball in hand.”
Ramsay got into the sport thanks to a taster session run by Forrester rugby club at her primary school in South Queensferry and then, after time at Linlithgow and Livingston, she played for Corstorphine Cougars in the top flight.
In 2024/25 the under-20 and Scottish Touch cap, who was once out for a long spell with an ACL knee injury, turned out for Edinburgh University in the BUCS Super Rugby competition before getting involved with Watsonians and Edinburgh.
She made her Scotland debut last year, but has had to bide her time to crack the matchday 23 regularly.
As well as Ramsay, second-row Sarah Bonar, back-row Rachel McLachlan and centre Evie Wills come into the starting team here with Emma Wassell and Rachel Philipps injured and Eva Donaldson dropping to the bench.
Hollie Cunningham and Leia Brebner-Holden have earned bench spots and the game is expected to be a tight affair between two evenly matched sides.
Next up in the final game of the Vodafone Scotland WXV Series campaign – part of the wider WXV Global Series presented by Mitsubishi Electric featuring the top sides in the world – for Scotland is Australia this coming Saturday at the Hive.
Scotland’s away WXV Global Series fixtures will take place against Australia on October 17 and October 23.
Hannah Ramsay is pictured – thanks to Peter Watt Photography
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