Scotland select six Lightning players in WXV squad

Scotland Women Head Coach Bryan Easson has selected six Loughborough Lightning players in his squad to travel to Cape Town for WXV 2.

Rachel Malcolm, Emma Wassell, Christine Belisle and Helen Nelson have included along with new signings, Anne Young and Elis Martin.

Ahead of traveling to South Africa for the competition, Scotland will host Wales and Fiji in two Autumn tests.

Scotland’s schedule will begin with a Test against Wales, who are currently eighth in the World Rugby rankings, at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh on Friday 6 September (kick-off 7.35pm).

Scotland secured an historic seventh Test win in a row, against Wales in the 2024 Guinness Six Nations, ending a 20-year-long spell of defeats in Cardiff with an 18-20 victory.

For the first time in history, Scotland Women will face Fiji on Saturday 14 September, kicking off at 4.45pm ay Hive Stadium.

The Fijiana side first began competing on the international stage in 2006 and are currently positioned 13th in the World Rugby rankings.

Scotland will play three teams – Italy, Japan and Australia – in the six-team competition with matches being played in a cross-pool format, with the first match taking place on Saturday 28 September at DHL Stadium against Italy.

Scotland will then move on to face Japan on Saturday 5 October, finishing with a final match against Australia on Saturday 12 October, with both games set to take place at Athlone Stadium.

The competition also sees the final six Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 places on the line.

Scotland Women squad

Forwards
Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers)
Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning)
Sarah Bonar (Harlequins)
Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears)
Lisa Cockburn (Unattached)
Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers)
Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears)
Jade Konkel (Harlequins)
Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning)
Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning)
Fiona McIntosh (Saracens)
Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier)
Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears)
Aila Ronald (University of Edinburgh)*
Alex Stewart (Corstorphine Cougars)
Emma Wassell (Loughborough Lightning)
Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning)

Backs
Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester-Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers)*
Coreen Grant (Saracens)
Caity Mattinson (Ealing Trailfinders)
Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs)
Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers)
Rhona Lloyd (GB 7s/ Stade Bordelais)
Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning)
Emma Orr (Bristol Bears)
Rachel Philipps (Sale Sharks)*
Lisa Thomson (GB 7s/Ealing Trailfinders)
Chloe Rollie (Ealing Trailfinders)
Lucia Scott (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury)*
Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears)

*Uncapped player

Autumn Tests

Scotland Women v Wales, Hive Stadium, Friday 6 September, kick-off 7.35pm
Scotland Women v Fiji, Hive Stadium, Saturday 14 September, kick-off 4.45pm

WXV 2 fixtures

Italy v Scotland, DHL Stadium, Saturday 28 September, kick-off 3pm
Japan v Scotland, Athlone Stadium, Saturday 5 October, kick-off 2pm
Australia v Scotland, Athlone Stadium, Saturday 12 October, kick-off 5pm