On Tuesday Scotland women’s head coach Bryan Easson named his 30-strong squad for the upcoming September Tests with Wales and Fiji and the WXV 2 tournament in South Africa.
Four of the players named are uncapped – Aila Ronald, Leia Brebner-Holden, Rachel Philipps and Lucia Scott – so you can find out a bit more about them here…
Aila Ronald
University of Edinburgh via Deeside, Dundee, Garioch and Edinburgh Rugby
Hooker
“Aila Ronald, she is one that really does excite me, she is physical and her training has been excellent,” Easson said.
“She is physical, she is coachable and she really is just soaking everything up. And for a young hooker you can imagine how good it is to come in and work with [forwards coach and former Scotland men’s hooker] Fraser Brown while senior hookers like Lana Skeldon and Elis Martin have put their arm round her and are helping her and they are all pushing each other on.
“She is working on her throwing, that is the bedrock of the game for a hooker, but she is strong enough in terms of scrummaging and she is quick and she is strong in general and she has been very impressive.”
Leia Brebner-Holden
Gloucester-Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers via Somerset, the UAE and Edinburgh Rugby
Scrum-half
“This time last year, we had a fair idea of who Leia Brebner-Holden was, but she came up, played well during the Celtic Challenge with Edinburgh,” Easson said.
“Gloucester speak highly of her and she played well with the under-20s and she had a good training block.”
In a previous interview, explaining her Scottish links the player said: ““My mum was born in Inverness and in our family it has always been her and myself supporting Scotland and my dad and my sister supporting England, so chatting to mum in recent months she has been excited to see the opportunities I have been getting north of the border.
“If I get the chance to wear a Scotland shirt in the future I know it is something that would make her very proud while my dad and my sister would become Scottish fans I’m sure!”
Rachel Philipps
Sale Sharks via Biggar, University of Edinburgh, Watsonians and Edinburgh Rugby
Centre
“Rachel Philipps is available now and we’ve been impressed by her – it’s a great chance for her,” Easson said.
A strong running centre it has all happened very quickly for the Biggar product who also played for the University of Edinburgh. Last season she impressed for Watsonians as they finished runners-up in the Premiership and then won the Sarah Beaney Cup with Philipps starring in the latter with a try and a player of the match performance.
After that game Watsonians head coach Bruce Millar said: “The centre pairing of Briar McNamara and Rachel Philipps have different skill-sets, but complement each other very well.”
Now Scotland Futures cap Philipps, only called into the last two weeks of the four-week pre-season block with the national team as a ‘day trainer’ there to gain experience, really has a chance to make a name for herself.
Lucia Scott
Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury via Bicester, Witney, Gosford and England under-18
Full-back
“Lucia Scott played at 13 in the under-20s in the summer and that was more because of injuries, but she is a 15 a really nice footballer she will challenge Chloe Rollie,” Easson stated.
“She has really good movement, good feet and is a good kicker. She has been involved with England age-grade set up but we have grabbed her and that is the key thing.”
In a recent interview the player herself said: “My dad and his parents are all fully Scottish and the family are all very proud.”
Her dad and grandparents have links to the Glasgow area before they moved south so that makes her qualified to wear the thistle.
Injuries and not selected
Those Scottish Rugby contracted players who were not in the recent training squad/’day trainers’ list:
Molly Wright (quad injury)
Shona Cambell (shoulder/collarbone injury)
Evie Wills (just getting back from an ACL injury)
Nikki Simpson (not selected)
Those Scottish Rugby contracted players who were in the recent training squad/’day trainers’ list, but are not in this 30:
Beth Blacklock (foot injury)
Louise McMillan (not selected, “that was the toughest” call to make said Easson)
Jenny Maxwell (not selected, “t was tough not to select her” said the head coach)
Liz Musgrove (not selected)
- The September Tests will now be known as the Vodafone Series after this link up was secured.
- Recently retired Scotland player Sarah Law will be playing for the Barbarians in South Africa on September 7, here is more info.
Scotland women’s squad for the Vodafone Series and WXV 2 (uncapped in bold)
Forwards
Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers)
Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning)
Sarah Bonar (Harlequins)
Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears)
Lisa Cockburn (Gloucester Hartpury)
Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers)
Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears)
Jade Konkel (Harlequins)
Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning)
Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning)
Fiona McIntosh (Saracens)
Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier)
Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears)
Aila Ronald (University of Edinburgh)
Alex Stewart (Corstorphine Cougars)
Emma Wassell (Loughborough Lightning)
Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning)
Backs
Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester-Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers)
Coreen Grant (Saracens)
Caity Mattinson (Ealing Trailfinders)
Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs)
Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers)
Rhona Lloyd (GB 7s/ Stade Bordelais)
Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning)
Emma Orr (Bristol Bears)
Rachel Philipps (Sale Sharks)
Lisa Thomson (GB 7s/Ealing Trailfinders)
Chloe Rollie (Ealing Trailfinders)
Lucia Scott (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury)
Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears)
All of the uncapped players are pictured, thanks to Scottish Rugby/SNS and N50 Photography
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