The Siobhan Cattigan Trophy has been unveiled and will first be contested for when Scotland take on Ireland in the Women’s Six Nations round five match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Sunday.
The trophy is named after Scotland international forward Siobhan Cattigan who sadly passed away in 2021 at the age of 26. Cattigan, a back-row forward, won 19 caps for Scotland between 2018 and 2021.
Scotland and Ireland have always had strong links in the women’s game and this trophy will bind the nations together even more going forward as it will be played for in fixtures between the two in the future after Sunday too.
On Valentine’s Day in 1993, the nations played their first ever international match at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh and that was a historic moment.
And this Sunday will see another ground-breaking moment when the first ever standalone trophy is played for in a Women’s Six Nations match.
Cattigan’s passion for rugby began at the age of five when she joined the McLaren Minis based in her hometown of Callander.
A proud product of the Stirling County club, Cattigan graduated from Stirling University where she also displayed sporting excellence and leadership by captaining a struggling university rugby team to historic league victories.
Cattigan cited Scotland’s famous away win against Ireland in the 2018 Six Nations as one of her personal highlights in a Scotland shirt while her family has strong ties to Ireland.
The trophy, commissioned by Scottish Rugby with the full support of the Irish Rugby Football Union, was crafted by renowned Scottish jewellers Hamilton and Inches and Cattigan’s family was integral to its design.
Indeed, the trophy was first revealed at a private event for her family and friends in Stirling recently.
The Hamilton and Inches team, who also produced the Doddie Weir Cup and the Cuttitta Cup, created the Siobhan Cattigan Trophy to ensure that her contribution to rugby will always be remembered.
The trophy features the topography of Ben Ledi, a hill which always symbolised returning home to the place that Cattigan loved in the shape of Callander while the stars above contain one diamond representing her birthstone.
Eight gemstones – two blue agates, two amethysts and four white moonstones – feature on the trophy lid. The eight gemstones represent her playing at No.8, the blue agates and moonstones represent Scotland and the amethysts represent Cattigan’s favourite colour.
Beechwood sourced from Callander by her parents was used to create the base while a favourite photograph of Cattigan from a Scotland game against Italy was incorporated into the trophy alongside one of her favourite quotes “Good people plant trees so that people who follow will benefit from the shade”.
Cattigan’s mother Morven said: “That proverb was testament to her selfless nature, reflecting a life lived for others.
“Siobhan was a remarkable international athlete of substance and influence, a scholar who excelled academically, a team mate who elevated every environment she entered, a friend whose character, warmth and spirit left a lasting mark and a champion for women and girls in rugby – she inspired young players, transformed teams and reshaped the future of women in sport.
“Her contribution was profound then, remains so now and will endure long into the future through this beautiful trophy which serves as a public celebration of Siobhan’s life, impact and legacy.”
Scottish Rugby Limited chair John McGuigan said: “This stunning, bespoke trophy is testimony to Siobhan and underlines she will never be forgotten.
“We are very proud of her, the contribution she made as a player to the game in Scotland and beyond and the legacy she will continue to provide.
“We thank sincerely Siobhan’s family and friends for so actively championing the trophy and so embracing the concept on which we worked with Hamilton and Inches and our colleagues in the Irish Rugby Football Union.”
Declan Madden, chair of the Irish Rugby Football Union, added: “We are honoured going forward to be playing for the Siobhan Cattigan Trophy against our friends from Scotland.
“This trophy not only recognises the proud and competitive spirit between Ireland and Scotland, but also ensures that the memory of Siobhan as a player, will continue to inspire current and future generations.
“On behalf of the IRFU, I would like to thank Siobhan’s family and our colleagues in Scottish Rugby for their support in bringing this meaningful initiative to life.”
Both Scottish Rugby and the Irish Rugby Football Union are delighted that Siobhan’s family will be present at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday for the presentation of the Siobhan Cattigan Trophy for the first time.
The Siobhan Cattigan Trophy is pictured as is Siobhan Cattigan – thanks to Scottish Rugby and Bryan Robertson
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