Fife-based Melanie Dobie “cannot wait” to be at Murrayfield on Saturday (1.30pm, live on BBC) to watch Scotland women playing England as memories come flooding back from her own international rugby debut at the same stadium in 2002.
Nowadays Dobie is an honorary member of Madras Rugby Club in St Andrews and she has worked hard in recent years to help the mini and girls’ section grow there.
But this weekend she will be a supporter of the national side and previously she used to play for them.
With a crowd of 25,000 plus expected to be at Murrayfield in Edinburgh for the Women’s Six Nations round two clash versus the world champions, it is set to be one of the highest ever attended Scottish women’s sporting occasion and it will be the first time Scotland have played a standalone women’s game in the stadium with supporters present.
The team has played eight games at Murrayfield before starting with Sweden in 2002, two games in 2004, two in 2005, two in 2006 and one in 2020.
The first seven of those were played as double headers alongside men’s games whilst the most recent occasion six years ago was on a snowy Monday afternoon in front of a handful of people behind closed doors when Scotland played England after Scotstoun in Glasgow had been deemed unplayable thanks to Storm Ciara the day before.
The 34-3 win in 2002 versus Sweden was before a men’s clash with Fiji and Dobie, then playing under her maiden name Christie, was involved.
Dobie, who turned out for Northumbria University and Blaydon Rugby Club and played wing and full-back for her country, earned 26 caps and travelled to Dubai, Canada and France through rugby and she said: “My first cap was the first time the women’s team ever played at Murrayfield back in 2002 and I have amazing memories from that occasion.”
Scotland cap number 81 Dobie added: “I was fortunate enough to watch Scotland’s men play at Murrayfield in the Six Nations a few weeks ago and I am even more excited to be going back tomorrow to watch the women play there, I really cannot wait.
“I am going with my mum and my daughters which seems fitting for a day that will be a celebration of women’s sport.
“With my first cap for Scotland having been at Murrayfield against Sweden I feel a tremendous sense of pride that I am going back to watch the women playing there again.
“Playing at Murrayfield will always be a highlight for me in my rugby career and I’m sure it will be the same for the current Scotland players too.
“The atmosphere is going to be amazing and I can’t wait to cheer them on from the stands, good luck to captain Rachel Malcolm and the squad.”
- Over 25,000 tickets have been sold for Scotland-England, join in the fun by getting tickets here – before the senior game at 1.30pm at Murrayfield the under-21 sides from both countries are meeting at Hive Stadium at 11am.
Melanie Dobie is pictured handing over one of her Scotland shirts to Madras president Ben Stuart
The Women’s Six Nations is here and the 2026 event runs from April 11 to May 17 and, between April 6 and May 20, GH Media will be covering Scotland’s campaign and the wider tournament – keep an eye out for content and thanks to everyone who supports GH Media’s work within women’s rugby