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Scotland

Union	Scottish Rugby Union
Head coach	Bryan Easson
Captain	Rachel Malcolm
First colours Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	7 (as of 28 October 2024)
Highest	5
First international
Scotland 10–0 Ireland  (Edinburgh, Scotland; 14 February 1993)
Biggest win
Russia 0–84 Scotland  (Enköping, Sweden; 17 May 2009)
Biggest defeat
England 89–0 Scotland  (Twickenham, England; 13 March 2011)
World Cup
Appearances	5 (First in 1994)
Best result	5th, 1994

The Scotland women's national rugby union team represents Scotland in women's international rugby union and is governed by the Scottish Rugby Union. The team competes in the annual Women's Six National Championship and has competed in five of the Women's Rugby World Cups since their hosted debut in 1994. The Nation plays an important role in the rugby world stage.

History

Scotland Women's first official test match was played against Ireland at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh on 14 February 1993, ending in a 10 - 0 win to the hosts. Leading from the front, first Scotland captain Sandra Colamartino was the scorer of both tries.

In April of the following year, Scotland stepped in as alternate host of the 1994 Women's Rugby World Cup, finishing fifth, the team's best appearance to date. Since then, the Women's team have competed in the 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2021 iterations of the tournament.

The early streak of success peaked on 21 March 1998, as a 8–5 win over England in their final match of the Home Nations Championship marked the achievement of a Grand Slam for Scotland.

The Scottish Women's Rugby Union (SWRU) was the national governing body for women's rugby union in Scotland. It was responsible for the governance of women's rugby union within Scotland. Its role was all-encompassing. It went from youth recruitment, through administering all senior based (aged 16+) competition, through to the performance and management of the Scotland women's national rugby union team.

At its AGM in June 2009, the SWRU voted unanimously in favour of amalgamating the Scottish Rugby Union and the SWRU to form an integrated national governing body rugby in Scotland.

Thistle and the anthem

The thistle is the national flower, and also the symbol of the Scotland national rugby union team. According to legend the "guardian thistle" has played its part in the defence of Scotland against a night attack by Norwegian Vikings, one of whom let out a yell of pain when he stepped barefoot on a thistle, alerting the Scottish defenders. The Latin Nemo me impune lacessit ("No-one provokes me with impunity!" in English) is the motto of Scotland's premier chivalric order, the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle.

"Flower of Scotland" has been used since 1990 as Scotland's unofficial national anthem. It was written by Roy Williamson of The Corries in 1967, and adopted by the SRU to replace "God Save the Queen".

Strip

Scotland have traditionally worn navy blue jerseys, white shorts and blue socks. On the occasion that Scotland is the home side and the opposing team normally wears dark colours, Scotland will use its change strip. Traditionally this is a white jersey with navy blue shorts and socks. During a sponsorship deal, purple was introduced to the traditional blue jersey. This was a significant departure from the traditional colours of blue and white, although purple is inspired from the thistle flower.

Results summary

Overall

Women's
World Rugby Rankings

• v
• t
• e

Top 20 rankings as of 25 November 2024

Rank	Change*	Team	Points
1		England	097.56
2		Canada	089.31
3		New Zealand	088.64
4		France	085.11
5		Australia	078.10
6		Ireland	078.03
7		Scotland	076.82
8		Italy	074.75
9		United States	074.20
10		Wales	072.58
11		Japan	066.41
12		South Africa	066.18
13		Spain	065.42
14		Russia	061.10
15		Samoa	060.56
16		Netherlands	060.20
17		Fiji	059.14
18		Hong Kong	056.20
19		Kazakhstan	055.23
20		Sweden	052.72
*Change from the previous week

(Full internationals only)
Correct as of 13 October 2023

Rugby: Scotland internationals 1993–

Opponent	First game	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Percentage
Australia	1999	3	0	0	3	0.00%
Belgium	2009	1	1	0	0	100.00%
Canada	1994	7	1	0	6	14.29%
Colombia	2022	1	1	0	0	100.00%
England	1994	32	2	0	30	6.25%
France	1998	28	5	1	22	17.86%
Ireland	1993	32	17	0	15	53.13%
Italy	1988	22	7	1	14	31.18%
Japan	2019	2	1	0	1	50.00%
Kazakhstan	2006	1	1	0	0	100.00%
Netherlands	1995	6	5	0	1	83.33%
New Zealand	1994	4	0	0	4	0.00%
Russia	1994	2	2	0	0	100.00%
Samoa	2002	1	1	0	0	100.00%
South Africa	2010	5	3	0	2	60.00%
Spain	1997	23	15	0	8	65.22%
Sweden	1994	9	9	0	0	100.00%
United States	1998	6	1	0	5	16.67%
Wales	1993	36	16	0	20	44.44%
Summary	1993	221	88	2	131	39.82%

World Cup

Rugby World Cup
Year	Round	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA
1991	Did not participate
1994	5th place	5	3	0	2	72	42
1998	6th place	5	2	0	3	89	141
2002	6th place	4	2	0	2	41	53
2006	6th place	5	3	0	2	67	72
2010	8th place	5	1	0	4	57	132
2014	Did not qualify
2017
2021	Pool stage	3	0	0	3	27	89
2025	Qualified
2029	TBD
2033
Total	5th Place	27	11	0	16	353	529
Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place Home venue

Players

Current squad

Scotland announced their 30-player squad on 27 August 2024 for the WXV 2 competition.

On 10 September 2024, Emma Wassell was replaced by Louise McMillan, after been diagnosed with a tumour in her chest.

Caps as of 27 September 2024.

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Club/province
Leah Bartlett	Prop	(1998-08-28)28 August 1998 (aged 26)	36	Leicester Tigers
Christine Belisle	Prop	(1993-11-04)4 November 1993 (aged 30)	36	Loughborough Lightning
Sarah Bonar	Lock	(1994-02-09)9 February 1994 (aged 30)	38	Harlequins
Elliann Clarke	Prop	(2001-02-16)16 February 2001 (aged 23)	12	Bristol Bears
Lisa Cockburn	Prop	(1992-12-06)6 December 1992 (aged 31)	30	Gloucester-Hartpury
Eva Donaldson	Second row	(2001-07-10)10 July 2001 (aged 23)	12	Leicester Tigers
Evie Gallagher	Number 8	(2000-08-22)22 August 2000 (aged 24)	28	Bristol Bears
Jade Konkel	Number 8	(1993-12-09)9 December 1993 (aged 30)	63	Harlequins
Rachel Malcolm	Back row	(1991-05-23)23 May 1991 (aged 33)	48	Loughborough Lightning
Elis Martin	Hooker	(1999-05-23)23 May 1999 (aged 25)	11	Loughborough Lightning
Fiona McIntosh	Second row	(1999-10-25)25 October 1999 (aged 24)	3	Saracens
Rachel McLachlan	Back row	(1999-02-26)26 February 1999 (aged 25)	43	Montpellier HR
Lana Skeldon	Hooker	(1993-10-18)18 October 1993 (aged 30)	70	Bristol Bears
Aila Ronald	Hooker	(2004-04-18)18 April 2004 (aged 20)	0	University of Edinburgh
Alex Stewart	Back row	(2004-05-28)28 May 2004 (aged 20)	6	Corstorphine Cougars
Emma Wassell	Second row	(1994-12-28)28 December 1994 (aged 29)	67	Loughborough Lightning
Louise McMillan	Second row	(1997-07-27)27 July 1997 (aged 27)	54	Saracens
Anne Young	Prop	(2000-03-17)17 March 2000 (aged 24)	11	Loughborough Lightning
Leia Brebner-Holden	Scrum-half	(2002-05-26)26 May 2002 (aged 22)	1	Gloucester-Hartpury / Cheltenham Tigers
Coreen Grant	Wing	(1998-01-30)30 January 1998 (aged 26)	12	Saracens
Caity Mattinson	Scrum-half	(1996-05-17)17 May 1996 (aged 28)	23	Ealing Trailfinders
Mairi McDonald	Scrum-half	(1997-11-25)25 November 1997 (aged 26)	24	Exeter Chiefs
Francesca McGhie	Wing	(2003-05-07)7 May 2003 (aged 21)	13	Leicester Tigers
Rhona Lloyd	Wing	(1996-10-17)17 October 1996 (aged 27)	50	Stade Bordelais / GB 7s
Helen Nelson	Fly-half	(1994-05-24)24 May 1994 (aged 30)	61	Loughborough Lightning
Emma Orr	Centre	(2003-04-06)6 April 2003 (aged 21)	20	Bristol Bears
Rachel Philipps	Centre	(2002-01-07)7 January 2002 (aged 22)	0	Sale Sharks
Lisa Thomson	Centre	(1997-09-07)7 September 1997 (aged 27)	60	Ealing Trailfinders / GB 7s
Chloe Rollie	Fullback	(1995-06-26)26 June 1995 (aged 29)	66	Ealing Trailfinders
Lucia Scott	Fullback	(2004-02-03)3 February 2004 (aged 20)	1	Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury
Meryl Smith	Centre	(2001-06-11)11 June 2001 (aged 23)	18	Bristol Bears

Notable internationalists

• Paula Chalmers, Scrum Half, named in World Cup Star XV
• Donna Kennedy, Number 8, most capped Scottish internationalist
• Jade Konkel, Number 8, first full-time professional Scottish internationalist

Award winners

World Rugby Awards

The following Scotland players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001:

Six Nations Awards

The following Scotland players have been recognised in the Women's Six Nations Awards since 2020:

Honours

• WXV
  • WXV2 Winners: 2023
• Home Nations Championship
  • Winners: 1998
• European Championship
  • Winners: 2001

See also

Women's international rugby – the most complete listing of women's international results since 1982

References

1. Bathgate, Stuart (2018-02-14). "Pioneers celebrate 25th anniversary of first Scotland women's international". The Offside Line. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
2. "The Scottish Thistle – Beautifully Bold!". Scottish at Heart. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
3. "Women's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
4. "Scotland squad named for WXV 2 competition". Scottish Rugby Union. 27 August 2024. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
5. Perkins, Bruce (2024-09-23). "All 18 squads for the 2024 WXV". 4 The Love Of Sport. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
6. "Scotland Women squad update: Tuesday 10 September". Scottish Rugby Union. 10 September 2024. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
7. "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
8. "Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship". Six Nations Rugby. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
9. "2022 TikTok Women's Six Nations Team of the Championship revealed". Six Nations Rugby. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
10. "Revealed: The Fans' 2024 Team of the Championship". Six Nations Rugby. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.

External links

• Official website

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