Loughborough Lightning utility back Freya MacColl is set to make her first start for Scotland Under-20s on the wing against Ireland in the final round of the Six Nations Summer Series on Thursday (16 July, Kick-off: 1pm BST).
MacColl has impressed from the bench in the first two rounds with a brilliant assist against England and two tries last week from the bench against Wales earning her a spot in the starting squad for Thursday’s game at the Centre for sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly.
“We had a really positive start against Wales to start the scores with a penalty early on but from there Wales got four tries from our possession,” said Head Coach Louise Dalgleish. “So we were really disappointed with that but ultimately it came from our own errors.
“I think when you take that first 20 minutes away, we actually outscored them 26-24, so we have shown how competitive we can be when we get the detail right, but we gave ourselves far too big a task to do after that.
“There’s a lot of lessons we are taking away from that in terms of mindset and mentality, and that is what we are taking into this final game against Ireland. I think overall we can be pleased with what we have done in this competition so far, we have shown some fantastic attacking rugby and had glimpses of the physicality we bring in defence.
“Now we’re looking to string all of that together for an 80-minute performance, and ultimately that’s what it will take to get the result we are looking for on Thursday.”
Scotland U20 team to face Ireland
CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence in Caerphilly, Wales
Thursday 16 July, 2025
Kick-off: 1pm
15. Poppy Mellanby (Biggar RFC / Glasgow Warriors) *
14. Emily Norval – Vice-captain (Stirling County / Glasgow Warriors) *
13. Nicole Flynn (University of Edinburgh / Glasgow Warriors
12. Lucy MacRae (University of Edinburgh / Edinburgh Rugby) *
11. Freya MacColl (Loughborough University / Loughborough Lightning)
10. Ceitidh Ainsworth (Stirling County RFC / Glasgow Warriors) *
9. Emily Love (Corstorphine Cougars / Edinburgh Rugby)*
1. Poppy Fletcher – Captain (University of Edinburgh / Glasgow Warriors) *
2. Megan Hyland (Garioch / Glasgow Warriors) *
3. Eilidh Fleming (Stirling County / Glasgow Warriors) *
4. Aisha Zameer (Hillhead Jordanhill / Glasgow Warriors)
5. Gemma Thomson (Stirling County / Glasgow Warriors)*
6. Merryn Gunderson (Corstorphine Cougars / Edinburgh Rugby) *
7. Lily Crisp (Loughborough University)
8. Emily Coubrough (University of Edinburgh/Glasgow Warriors)*
Replacements:
16. Karis Craig (Watsonian FC/Edinburgh Rugby)*
17. Louise Taperell (West of Scotland)*
18. Megan Riach (Garioch/Edinburgh Rugby)*
19. Holly Wilson (Biggar RFC) *
20. Sophie Price (Hillhead Jordanhill / Glasgow Warriors)*
21. Rebekah Douglas (Stirling County / Glasgow Warriors)*
22. Holly McIntyre (University of Edinburgh / Edinburgh Rugby) *
23. Lisa Brown (University of Edinburgh / Edinburgh Rugby) *
* Vodafone Regional Training Centre supported players
