As the Women’s Six Nations Championship gets underway this weekend, Scotland has announced their squad for their opening match against England at Esher RFC on Saturday.
The line-up has a mix of youth and experienced players, many of whom have spent the summer playing rugby sevens.
Head coach Karen Findlay said: “Scotland against England always has that added edge and it’ll be a really good opportunity to see how our training has progressed, how our squad has developed and will be an exciting start to the 2013 campaign.”
A warm up training match against the British army ten days ago got the Scottish campaign off to a good start with a 10-5 win in blizzard conditions.
Findlay said: “It was really important our players had the chance to trial some things we’ve been practising in training and from a coaching perspective, it was a great opportunity for us to try out some of the combinations we wanted to look at in terms of our front five, back row and midfield.”
Welcomed back into the starting XV is winger Annabel Sergeant, after a season out and experience gained while playing for the national women’s sevens squad. She lines up alongside fellow sevens team members Steph Johnston (full-back), Sarah Dixon (outside centre), Megan Gaffney (wing), Louise Dalgliesh (scrum half), Tess Forsberg (openside flanker) and Susie Brown (no 8) (pictured) who, once again, captains the squad.
Making her debut in the Scotland jersey is Bridget Millar-Mills (sister of England Women’s cap Harriet), alongside fellow lock Lindsay Wheeler who makes her 53rd appearance for her country.
Meanwhile prop Heather Lockhart wins her 59th cap, having made her Scotland debut in November 2004. Sarah Quick retains her place at hooker with Tracey Balmer returning at tight-head. Mary Lafaiki, at blindside, makes her first start for Scotland after six appearances as substitute.
Newcomers to the squad, on the bench, are Becca Parker, Jade Konkel, Sarah Law and Leanne Neary. While Becca, daughter of former Scotland B forward Hugh, honed her early skills by continuing to play through university, Jade, Sarah and Leanne have developed their game through Scotland Women’s age grade programme. Sarah, who turned 18 last month, was first capped for Scotland Women 7s in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 7s qualifier in Moscow in June 2012, just days after leaving school.
Scotland Women v England Women, Saturday 2 February 2013, Esher RFC, kick-off 2pm
15 Steph Johnston (RHC Cougars)
14 Annabel Sergeant (Richmond)
13 Sarah Dixon (RHC Cougars)
12 Lisa Ritchie (Carlisle)
11 Megan Gaffney (Hillhead Jordanhill)
10 Tanya Griffith (RHC Cougars)
9 Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars)
1 Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill)
2 Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers)
3 Tracey Balmer (Worcester)
4 Lindsay Wheeler (Richmond)
5 Bridget Millar-Mills (Worcester)
6 Mary Lafaiki (Hillhead Jordanhill)
7 Tess Forsberg (Richmond)
8 Susie Brown (c) (Richmond)
Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
