Edinburgh Rugby women’s head coach Claire Cruikshank is pleased with the progress young loosehead prop Talei Tawake is making in the Celtic Challenge as the latter prepares to start her third game in a row in the competition.
Having played different positions growing up, the Watsonians talent who has been part of Scotland age-grade squads before and is a player who has development support from Scottish Rugby in 2025/26, she is now focusing on the loosehead role and has looked good there against Wolfhounds and Glasgow Warriors in recent weeks.
“Talei’s going well,” Cruikshank said ahead of Saturday’s round three clash at home to the Irish Wolfhounds at Hive Stadium at 3pm.
“She transitioned to the front-row maybe about 18 months ago, but then picked up an injury in the summer prior to the under-20s tournament that meant she needed an operation.
“She got back fit and had one or two club games prior to coming into this set-up for this competition. She’s still learning her trade, especially as a loosehead prop, but she is working very hard and she is a strong athlete with an exciting future we hope.
“It’s been great having Ross Young and [current Edinburgh men’s prop] Rhys Litterick involved in the coaching set-up as it gives us some real front-row expertise that the young props like Talei can learn from.”
Edinburgh, in fifth in the six-team standings, know it will be a tough game this weekend having lost to leaders and two-time champions Wolfhounds 34-7 in Dublin in round one on December 20.
However, having beaten Glasgow in their last outing on December 27 with a bonus point there is just one change to the Edinburgh starting XV for this one with Watsonians’ Nicole Marlow coming in at full-back for Stirling County’s Scarlett Haddow who is on the bench.
- As well as the Glasgow and Edinburgh matches, the third round three match of the weekend sees Brython Thunder play the Clovers in Wales on Sunday.
Talei Tawake is pictured – thanks to Edinburgh Rugby