Loughborough Lightning prop Christine Belisle has been called up into the Scotland squad ahead of their Rugby World Cup quarter-final against England.
The 41-times capped tighthead joins Bryan Easson’s squad as an injury replacement for Elliann Clarke, and fellow front rower Lisa Cockburn suffering a concussion that rules her out of contention for Sunday’s showdown at Ashton Gate.
Belisle last featured for Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations, but stepped away from international rugby in May due to personal issues and missing out on the initial training squad for the World Cup.
The 31-year-old featured for Lightning in the weekend’s PWR: The Cup loss to Saracens, playing 40 minutes for a third successive game this season.
Belisle’s call-up takes Lightning’s representation in the Scotland squad to six, with Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden, Anne Young, Elis Martin and Becky Boyd already included.
Opponents England have four Lightning players in their squad; Sadia Kabeya, Emily Scarratt, Lilli Ives Campion and Helena Rowland – taking the potential current Loughborough count in Sunday’s World Cup last-eight encounter to ten.
