Six Loughborough Lightning players have been named in Scotland’s extended training squad by Head Coach Bryan Easson, ahead of the side’s Autumn Tests against Wales and Fiji and September’s WXV 2 competition.
Christine Belisle, Rachel Malcolm, Elis Martin, Emma Wassell, Anne Young, and Helen Nelson will all convene in camp on Monday 29 July for four weeks, before a squad of 30 is selected for the upcoming international fixtures.
Easson said: “It can’t be understated the importance of these next few months as we look to ensure Scotland Women qualify for the Rugby World Cup 2025, and maintain a top-eight World Ranking position whilst competing in Cape Town. I believe this group can take us there.
“The level of blended experience we have is unlike any Scotland Women’s team that has come before it. This is also a crucial time in the calendar cycle to bring in new faces and challenge our group.
“The next few weeks are going to be all about focusing on how we best prepare ourselves for the challenges that lie ahead not only in the immediate future but the upcoming year.”
Scotland Women Extended Training Squad
FORWARDS
Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers)
Gemma Bell (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury/Edinburgh Rugby)**
Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning)
Holland Bogan (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)**
Sarah Bonar (Harlequins)
Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears)
Lisa Cockburn (Leicester Tigers)
Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers)
Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears)
Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning)
Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning)
Fiona McIntosh (Saracens)
Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier)
Louise McMillan (Saracens)
Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears)
Alex Stewart (Corstorphine Cougars/Edinburgh Rugby)
Emma Wassell (Loughborough Lightning)
Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning)
BACKS
Cieron Bell (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby)**
Beth Blacklock (Saracens)
Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester-Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers)**
Coreen Grant (Saracens)
Caity Mattinson (Ealing Trailfinders)
Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs)
Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers)
Liz Musgrove (Ealing Trailfinders)
Rhona Lloyd (GB 7s/ Stade Bordelais)
Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning)
Emma Orr (Bristol Bears)
Lisa Thomson (GB 7s/Ealing Trailfinders)
Chloe Rollie (Ealing Trailfinders)
Lucia Scott (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury)**
Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears)
**Uncapped player
