The naming of a squad before any big tournament is always much anticipated and that was especially the case when new Scotland head coach Sione Fukofuka named his group for the upcoming Women’s Six Nations.
There was a lot to unpack when Fukofuka’s 38-strong squad for the showpiece event landed on Wednesday lunch time – from new faces to returning faces and omitted players – so here is the Scotland Six Nations squad by numbers…
38 is the number of players in the full squad that will for training from March 31 ahead of the big event beginning on April 11 when the Scots head to Cardiff to take on Wales in the Principality Stadium.
21 is the number of forwards in the group, between them they have 537 caps.
17 is the number of backs included, between them they have 361 caps.
31 is the number of core players in the group with 29 of them previously capped and 2 – Aila Ronald and Hannah Walker – uncapped.
7 is the number of development players in the group with all of them – Holland Bogan, Emily Coubrough, Poppy Fletcher, Imogen Spence, Aicha Sutcliffe, Ceitidh Ainsworth and Rianna Darroch – uncapped.
9 uncapped players in total.
6 is the number of previously capped players – Hollie Cunningham, Louise McMillan, Shona Campbell, Rachel Philipps, Lucia Scott and Meryl Smith – who were not at last year’s Rugby World Cup in England for various reasons who are returning to the fold.
24 is the number of players who were at the World Cup who are still in the group.
9 is the number of players who were at the World Cup not involved here, 2 in the shape of Sarah Bonar and Lisa Thomson who are injured, 4 in the shape of Christine Belisle, Lisa Cockburn, Jade Konkel and Caity Mattinson who have retired and 3 – Adelle Ferrie, Molly Wright and Beth Blacklock – who have not been selected.
898 caps in total within the squad.
15 out of 17 players supported out with Scotland by Scottish Rugby included.
7 out of 11 players supported in Scotland by Scottish Rugby included.
3 out of 7 players on development support via Scottish Rugby included.
13 out of 38 players not contracted via Scottish Rugby – players selected for Scotland are remunerated separately through the National Team Agreement so these 13 and the other 25 will be in this category during the tournament.
3 loosehead props…
Leah Bartlett – Sale Sharks (49)
Anne Young – Loughborough Lightning (22)
Poppy Fletcher* – Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
4 hookers…
Lana Skeldon – Bristol Bears (84)
Elis Martin – Loughborough Lightning (26)
Aila Ronald – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
Aicha Sutcliffe* – Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County (uncapped)
3 tighthead props…
Elliann Clarke – Bristol Bears (24)
Molly Poolman – Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC (7)
Imogen Spence* – Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
6 second-rows…
Emma Wassell – Trailfinders Women (72)
Louise McMillan – Saracens (53)
Eva Donaldson – Sale Sharks (21)
Becky Boyd – Loughborough Lightning (3)
Hollie Cunningham – Bristol Bears (2)
Holland Bogan* – Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County (uncapped)
5 back-rows…
Rachel Malcolm – Captain – Trailfinders Women (61)
Rachel McLachlan – Montpellier (56)
Evie Gallagher – Bristol Bears (40)
Alex Stewart – Edinburgh Rugby (17)
Emily Coubrough* – Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
3 scrum-halves…
Leia Brebner-Holden – Loughborough Lightning (15)
Rhea Clarke – Bristol Bears (2)
Rianna Darroch* – Glasgow Warriors/Hillhead Jordanhill (uncapped)
3 stand-offs…
Helen Nelson – Loughborough Lightning (75)
Hannah Ramsay – Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC (2)
Ceitidh Ainsworth* – Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County (uncapped)
4 centres…
Emma Orr – Bristol Bears (34)
Meryl Smith – Bristol Bears (22)
Evie Wills – Sale Sharks (8)
Rachel Philipps – Sale Sharks (1)
7 back three players…
Chloe Rollie – Toulon Provence Méditerranée (81)
Rhona Lloyd – Sale Sharks (62)
Francesca McGhie – Trailfinders Women (26)
Coreen Grant – Harlequins (17)
Shona Campbell – Sale Sharks (9)
Lucia Scott – Loughborough Lightning (7)
Hannah Walker – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
*Development player
Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm is pictured – thanks to Women’s Six Nations
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