Rehabbing Scotland playmaker Meryl Smith is back running.
Smith, the 24-year-old who made her Scotland debut in 2022 and was at the Women’s Rugby World Cup later that year in New Zealand, has 22 caps to her name, but had an operation to deal with a serious ACL injury picked up the WXV 2 event in Australia late last year.
And the Bristol Bear, who grew up in the Netherlands and Edinburgh and who played sevens for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022, is still recovering.
It means that she will miss the upcoming Summer Tests and the World Cup in England in August and September.
However, she is back running now for the first time in many months and, when she did, her Bristol Bears team mates were there at the training ground to cheer her on all the way.
An emotional Smith, who will now kept building up to a full recovery, said: “It was so nice that the whole team came out to support me, very cute.
“It’s been a long time coming, but it feels good to be back running, even in the pouring rain.
“I’m getting there.”
Meanwhile, Rhea Clarke’s proud parents say that it is “just amazing” that the Scotland scrum-half has signed for the Bears and will be joining her older sister Elliann there in 2025/26.
The siblings began their rugby journey with Dunfermline and, in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations earlier in the year, were able to play for Scotland together for the first time when Rhea made her debut away to England.
Both players are currently part of the wider national team squad that is preparing for Summer Tests and are hopeful of selection for August and September’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in Bristol, but whatever happens there, after that they will be together at Bristol after Rhea signed for the PWR outfit.
“It’s just absolutely amazing that Rhea is joining Bristol Bears alongside Elliann, we couldn’t be prouder of them both,” mum Adele, who lives in Saline in Fife with husband Malcolm, said.
“Rhea has worked really hard and we are so excited for her to get this opportunity. Training with a top flight club down south, learning from some incredible players and coaches and playing in the PWR will be fantastic for her development.
“Her family love Bristol and have long-standing ties with the club – her great grandfather was an honorary vice president for many years – so that makes it even more special.
“The girls are really looking forward to being in Bristol together and continuing to share their rugby journeys together.
“And, for us as parents, it is just such a privilege to have them at the same club – we can get behind them with no divided loyalties or travel logistics nightmares!”
Rhea, 21, has just graduated from the University of Edinburgh and has one Scotland cap so far while 24-year-old tighthead prop Elliann joined Bristol two years ago and has 20 caps for her country.
The younger sister said: “I’m so excited to be joining the Bears family. It’s special to have family there and connections to the club and it’s a great environment and opportunity.
“I’m really looking forward to learning from the players and coaches and developing my rugby in Bristol.”
- The Summer Test versus Italy this Friday will be broadcast live on BBC ALBA and BBC Scotland.
Tickets for Scotland-England at Murrayfield in April 2026 can be purchased here.
Meryl Smith is pictured running again via a Bristol Bears video while her new club team mate Rhea Clarke is also pictured
GH Media has covered Scotland women’s journey to this point and will be covering Scotland women’s journey right through to the end of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, bringing insight from within the camp throughout and featuring other parts of the game in this country too – thanks to those already supporting the content, if you or your company would like to get involved please email gary@gh-media.co.uk