Scotland Women name team for Six Nations opener

The Scotland Women team for the opening match of the Women’s Six Nations against Italy at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday has been announced.

Scotland Women Head Coach Shade Munro has made three changes to the starting XV, which last took the field against Spain in January in Madrid.

Second row, Sarah Bonar will be returning to the starting line-up after injury saw her miss out on both the recent Canada and Spain Autumn Test matches.

Liz Musgrove is another returning face to the matchday squad following the Autumn Tests which she missed due to coaching commitments in Hong Kong.

Rachel Malcolm is returning to the starting line up as well after missing out on the Autumn Tests due to injury.

Also returning to the squad from injury is Sarah Law. Scrum half Law, who has 35 caps for the national side, is making her first appearance for Scotland Women since the Italy match of the 2018 Women’s Six Nations. Rhona Lloyd will also be on the bench for her first match back for Scotland Women since the same match against Italy.

Shade Munro said: “We have had some great preparation coming into this Six Nations campaign thanks to the introduction of the Autumn Test matches. We had two away matches, the first being against Italy. This was the first match and showed in the result. By the time we took on Spain earlier this month, we were better prepared and took away an impressive four tries away from home.

“Everyone is excited to be playing at Scotstoun again. The atmosphere for our match against Canada Women last year was fantastic.

“I am happy to welcome Liz, Sarah, Rachel, Sarah and Rhona back into the squad for this opening match. The team have had great preparation for the Six Nations over the last few months and we are eager to get our campaign started.”

The opening Women’s Six Nations match will see the team take to the field at Scotstoun, a venue that has very much become the home of Scotland Women over the last year. The match ball will be delivered by record-breaking ultrarunner, Jasmin Paris.

The match, as well as all other Scotland Women Six Nations matches, will be shown live on BBC ALBA, in an unprecedented show of support for the women’s game. BBC ALBA are proud to be the home of Scottish women’s sport.

Scotland team to face Italy

Friday 1 February (kick off 7.35pm)

15. Chloe Rollie ** (Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvios)

14. Liz Musgrove (Hong Kong RFC)
13. Hannah Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill)
12. Lisa Thomson ** CAPTAIN (Darlington Mowden Park)
11. Annabel Sergeant (Heriots Rugby Club)

10. Helen Nelson ** (Montpellier)
9. Mhairi Grieve (Firwood Waterloo)

1. Lisa Cockburn (Darlington Mowden Park)
2. Lana Skeldon ** (Watsonians)
3. Megan Kennedy ** (Stirling County)
4. Emma Wassell * (Heriots Rugby Club)
5. Sarah Bonar ** (Loughborough Lightning)
6. Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning)
7. Rachel McLachlan (Stirling County)
8. Siobhan Cattigan (Stirling County)

Substitutes

16. Jodie Rettie (Saracens)
17. Katie Dougan (Gloucester Hartpury)
18. Mairi Forsyth (Stirling County)
19. Sophie Anderson (Hillhead Jordanhill)
20. Nicola Howat * (Edinburgh University)
21. Sarah Law * (Edinburgh University)
22. Lisa Martin ** (Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvios)
23. Rhona Lloyd (Loughborough Lightning)