Sarah Donnelly is looking forward to seeing her close friends Elis Martin and Anne Young tackle the Guinness Women’s Six Nations challenge over the coming weeks – and she has a big challenge of her own coming up.
Donnelly, 25, plays in the front five of the scrum for Arnold Clark Premiership outfit Watsonians and has played a big part in their success in recent seasons. Her upcoming challenge is a different sporting one that the usual though as she looks out her trainers to take on the Edinburgh Half Marathon on May 25.
She has never run that distance before, but is doing in for a charity close to her chest and to remember her brother John who so sadly passed away when he was only a few days old.
“After seeing my Watsonians team mates Julie Lyons and Kaeli King run the half marathon over the last couple of years it has been on my mind to do and now I have taken the plunge and entered,” Donnelly said.
“Not being a seasoned runner I know it would be a challenge and I have decided to do it to raise money for charity.
“The charity I have chosen to raise money for is called Bliss. Bliss supports the families of babies in neonatal care and works with health care professionals and researchers to improve care for premature and sick babies.
“Charities like Bliss are really close to my heart as my parents had a really tough time having children and sadly lost my older brother, John, at four-days-old due to being premature and the complications that came with that.
“While Bliss itself wasn’t the charity my parents were supported by at the time it is one that they have donated money to since I was young and I want to continue that as they do great work for so many people.
“As I say, before this I have never been a runner and in October before I started training I couldn’t run more than 1km without stopping. I have now worked my way up to running 11km without stopping and I am really enjoying the journey.
“I imagine crossing the finish line will feel like winning a rugby cup final.
“This has been such a personal journey for me and been a chance to reflect. I think the achievement of going from zero to a half marathon and the self-growth that has happened from that has been and will be amazing.”
Donnelly grew up in Livingston and started playing rugby when she started university at 18. “I went down to EULRFC in my first week at Edinburgh Uni and have played ever since,” she explained.
“I had never played a team sport before having been a swimmer for most of my childhood and teenage years, but he team environment and the fact that you all competing towards a common goal is what I love about rugby.
“I also like that there is a space for all body shapes and sizes in rugby and that you can enjoy it at any level.
“I made the move to Watsonians in January of 2020 just before the pandemic and have been with the club ever since. “Earlier this year I played my 50th game for the club and I love the team environment that we have created in the women’s section at Watsonians.
“We are a tight-knit unit and it’s incredibly rewarding to go out and play week in and week out with your friends.
“The highlights of playing for Watsonian’s definitely have to be winning the Premiership in 2021/22 and winning the last two Sarah Beaney Cups.”
In between her own ongoing Sarah Beaney Cup campaign with Watsonians and her running training, Donnelly will also be cheering on Martin and Young in the Six Nations between March 22 and April 26.
“I am so incredibly proud of Elis and Anne,” she stated.
“I have been so lucky to witness their rugby journeys from being at uni and in the Futures programme to the international stage and it’s such an honour to see them live out their dreams of playing for Scotland.”
To donate to Donnelly’s fund raiser please click here and you can find out here about the great work Bliss do.
The Guinness Women’s Six Nations runs from March 22 to April 26 and Scotland start versus Wales at Hive Stadium in round one – get tickets for all three Scotland home games here.
Scotland women’s training squad (number of caps in brackets, uncapped players in bold)
Forwards
Leah Bartlett – Leicester Tigers (38)
Christine Belisle – Loughborough Lightning (40)
Becky Boyd – Loughborough Lightning (uncapped)
Sarah Bonar – Harlequins (42)
Elliann Clarke – Bristol Bears (15)
Hollie Cunningham – Bristol Bears (uncapped)
Evie Gallagher – Bristol Bears (31)
Adelle Ferrie – Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars (uncapped)
Jade Konkel – Harlequins (66)
Rachel Malcolm – Loughborough Lightning (52, C)
Elis Martin – Loughborough Lightning (15)
Rachel McLachlan – Montpellier (46)
Aila Ronald – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
Molly Poolman – Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonians (uncapped)
Lana Skeldon – Bristol Bears (74)
Alex Stewart – Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars (8)
Anne Young – Loughborough Lightning (15)
Molly Wright – Sale Sharks (23)
Backs
Leia Brebner-Holden – Loughborough Lightning (5)
Beth Blacklock – Saracens (3)
Rhea Clarke – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
Rhona Lloyd – Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais (52)
Caity Mattinson – Trailfinders Women (27)
Francesca McGhie – Leicester Tigers (17)
Liz Musgrove – Trailfinders Women (18)
Helen Nelson – Loughborough Lightning (65, V-C)
Rachel Philipps – Sale Sharks – (uncapped)
Chloe Rollie – Trailfinders Women (70)
Lucia Scott – Edinburgh Rugby/Gloucester-Hartpury (3)
Emma Orr – Bristol Bears (24)
Lisa Thomson – Trailfinders Women (64)
Hannah Walker – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
Evie Wills – Leicester Tigers (3)
Meg Varley – Bristol Bears (uncapped)
Day trainers invited into camp to support their development (all uncapped)
Forwards
Talei Tawake – Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonians
Holland Bogan – Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County
Natasha Logan – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh
Emily Coubrough – Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh
Backs
Hannah Ramsay – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh
Poppy Mellanby – Glasgow Warriors/Biggar
Sarah Donnelly is pictured – thanks to N50 Photography
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