Former team mates and a former coach have paid tribute to Sarah Law as she gets set to end a stellar career on a high by representing the Barbarians in Cape Town on Saturday versus South Africa.
The match kicks off at 12.30pm UK time in the DHL Stadium and is before the men’s Rugby Championship clash between South Africa and New Zealand.
Law, the nine/10 who earned 53 caps for Scotland, was forced to hang up her boots playing at the top level aged 29 a few months ago after opening up on this website about living with Axial Spondyloarthritis.
However, she has been named on the bench for the select side Barbarians and it will be a fitting way for her to sign off from rugby on the international stage.
Scotland’s Chloe Rollie said ahead of Law’s big day: “I messaged Slaw about this the other week and said it’s absolutely amazing.
“I’m so happy for her to get this opportunity to finish her career playing for the Baa Baas. I think it’s everyone’s dream to be involved in that squad.
“She thoroughly deserves it. She’s put in so much work to all aspects of her rugby career and I think to end on that is huge for her. It will be so good to hopefully be able to watch it and see how well she performs. It will allow her to play with players of different nationalities, from all over the place, and I think it’s the perfect send off for her.”
Meryl Smith added: “Sarah has had such an amazing career. She was definitely a role model for me when I was growing up and when I came into the squad she was amazing at helping me with all of the calls and all of the plays so that I knew what was going on.
“It is really amazing to see her getting a chance to play for the Baa Baas and what a way to end a career.”
Lyndsay O’Donnell, like Law a retired Scotland cap, said: “Slaw and I played together from under-20 level and it was a privilege to play alongside her and to also be her friend off the pitch.
“The dedication she has put into rugby and playing for her country cannot be matched.
“I am so happy that she has had the opportunity to come out of retirement and finish her career playing for the Baa Baas – what a great way to celebrate the career she has had.”
“What a lovely way to finish off for a lovely person,” Scotland head coach Bryan Easson stated.
“What she has done for Scotland women’s rugby is second to none, not only on the pitch, but off the pitch. She put her heart and soul into Scotland women’s rugby whether she was playing or not playing and she knew the game inside out and she was excellent with youngsters when they joined the squad as well.
“Rugby has been her life and to be able to finish off playing for the Barbarians in South Africa is fitting and an amazing opportunity.”
Law will be wearing the socks of her first club Penicuik for the match and she is in the matchday 23 alongside some great players from a number of different countries.
Scotland women’s squad and scorers in the Vodafone Series clash with Wales – you can read more about it here
15 Chloe Rollie (Ealing Trailfinders) (two tries and player of the match)
14 Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers) (two tries)
13 Emma Orr (Bristol Bears)
12 Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears) (one try)
11 Coreen Grant (Saracens)
10 Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning, V-C) (five conversions)
9 Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs)
1 Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers)
2 Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears)
3 Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning)
4 Fi McIntosh (Saracens)
5. Sarah Bonar (Harlequins)
6 Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning, C)
7 Alex Stewart (Corstorphine Cougars)
8. Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears) (one try)
Subs all used
16 Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning)
17 Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning)
18 Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears)
19 Louise McMillan (Saracens)
20 Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers)
21 Jade Konkel (Harlequins)
22 Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester-Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers)
23 Lucia Scott (Gloucester-Hartpury/Hartpury University)
Sarah Law and the Barbarians squad are pictured in South Africa
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