Five Loughborough Lightning players will head into camp with Scotland next month, as Head Coach Bryan Easson has announced an extended training squad of 38 players for the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Loosehead prop Anne Young and hooker Elis Martin are joined by Lightning teammate and lock Becky Boyd amongst the 21 forwards named for the camp, while a half-back duo of Leia Brebner-Holden and Helen Nelson complete the Loughborough contingent in the backs.
The Scotland group will convene in camp throughout June to build for the Summer Test period, before the Women’s Rugby World Cup begins in August – where Scotland have been drawn into Pool B and face clashes against Wales (22 August), Fiji (30 August) and Canada (6 September).
Easson said: “I’m really pleased we are now at the stage of naming an extended training squad ahead of what is going to be a huge summer for women’s sport.
“As we saw through this year’s Six Nations, there are good players missing out on selection and I think that’s testament to the depth we’ve developed, the consistency of performances, and the competitive standard being set week in and week out. Selection has been based entirely on performance, and that’s driven some very tough decisions.
“As we move into this crucial preparation period, we’re focused on sharpening every detail and pushing ourselves to the next levels. The months ahead are vital as we build towards the summer and set our sights firmly on competing at the Rugby World Cup.
“We’ve named a strong, competitive group that blends hard-earned experience with exciting young talent. I was particularly pleased with how our debutants and uncapped players performed during the Guinness Women’s Six Nations – both in training and in matches – and this window gives them a chance to step up and show us more.”
SCOTLAND WOMEN EXTENDED TRAINING SQUAD FOR WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP (caps in brackets)
FORWARDS
Leah Bartlett – Leicester Tigers (43)
Gemma Bell – Gloucester Hartpury/Hartpury University (1)
Becky Boyd – Loughborough Lightning (3)
Sarah Bonar – Harlequins (47)
Elliann Clarke – Bristol Bears (20)
Hollie Cunningham – Bristol Bears (2)
Lisa Cockburn – Gloucester Hartpury (33)
Eva Donaldson – Leicester Tigers (15)
Evie Gallagher – Bristol Bears (35)
Adelle Ferrie – Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars (4)
Jade Konkel – Harlequins (71)
Rachel Malcolm – Unattached (56)
Elis Martin – Loughborough Lightning (20)
Rachel McLachlan – Montpellier (51)
Aila Ronald – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
Molly Poolman – Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC (4)
Lana Skeldon – Bristol Bears (79)
Alex Stewart – Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars (11)
Emma Wassell – Unattached (67)
Molly Wright – Sale Sharks (23)
Anne Young – Loughborough Lightning (20)
BACKS
Leia Brebner-Holden – Loughborough Lightning (9)
Beth Blacklock – Saracens (3)
Rhea Clarke – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (1)
Coreen Grant – Harlequins (15)
Rhona Lloyd – Unattached (57)
Caity Mattinson – Trailfinders Women (31)
Francesca McGhie – Leicester Tigers (22)
Helen Nelson – Loughborough Lightning (70)
Rachel Philipps – Sale Sharks (1)
Hannah Ramsay – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (Uncapped)
Chloe Rollie – Trailfinders Women (75)
Lucia Scott – Gloucester-Hartpury/Hartpury University (5)
Emma Orr – Bristol Bears (29)
Lisa Thomson – Trailfinders Women (69)
Hannah Walker – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (Uncapped)
Evie Wills – Leicester Tigers (4)
Meg Varley – Bristol Bears (Uncapped)
