Launched in 2018, it is a performance development programme initially working with home based players with a focus on the tactical decision making, technical skill underpinning performance, physical attributes and performance characteristics that are needed to succeed in a high-performance rugby environment.

The main training weekend for the U18 Programme recently was an opportunity to have a camp alongside players from the Ireland U18 Emerging Talent programme, with the focus of the weekend designed for Scottish players to interact and learn from other female players with similar interests and performance abilities.

The first day of the camp provided players and coaches with an opportunity to learn and develop through a series of workshop delivered by Scott Forrest, the Scottish Rugby Women’s High-Performance Manager & GB Women’s 7s Head Coach.

Players were also provided with a Performance Lifestyle workshop delivered by Chris Volley from sportscotland Institute of Sport. Chris provided players with a critical insight into how to better organise thier life and sport, managing all those additional responsibilities and pressures that come with being a performance focused rugby player.

This was also a chance to provide the Scottish and Irish coaches with performance focused learning workshops to develop their own coaching profile. Allowing them to focus on their personal performance development in a snapshot across a weekend. All staff were incredibly busy ensuring that the players in their charge received an extremely high standard of delivery across the weekend.

To cap the weekend off, the two squads got the opportunity to participate in a 3 x 30 minute training match. This gave them a chance to express their rugby developments from across the year.

Robert Lavery, Scottish Rugby’s Performance Pathways Manager Girls’ & Women’s Rugby said: “We focussed on developing the foundations of our Futures Programme again this year. After embedding the programme over the past 2 years, we have created a solid base which will allow us to enhance and grow the programme moving forward.”

“The work that has been going on is key to developing the core skills and behaviours to help our Scotland based players as they continue through the Performance Pathway on their international rugby journey.

“Our players and staff have been working at developing the attributes that align to our Women and Girls Performance Curricula. Throughout this year, the players have been provided with a number of opportunities to develop themselves in training camp environments.

“Our staff are getting concentrated time to work on each player’s performance needs aligned to where we think they should be in this stage of their development. Focussing on key skill sets is absolutely crucial to allow them to excel as they move through the pathway towards hopefully being future international rugby players.

“The alignment of all our Performance Pathway Programmes to the Women and Girls Performance Curricula means we are in a fantastic position to track the needs of the player as they transition within our programmes in Scotland.

“All players and staff have worked incredibly hard this season and they should be extremely proud of their achievements thus far.”

Players will have the opportunity to put themselves forward for the Scottish Futures U20 programme when they reach the right age and stage of their development. This progression in the pathway programme will give players the opportunity to develop their skills, game understanding behaviours in a competitive environment which at U20 level may include identified Scottish Qualified players residing outside Scotland.

• Scottish Futures U18 players 2019/2020

  Abbe Bruce	Hillhead Jordanhill
  Abbie Ledwidge	Stirling County RFC
  April McKenzie	Highland RFC
  Carla McDonald	Hillhead Jordanhill
  Charlotte Boan	East Kilbride RFC
  Charlotte Gilmour	Strathallan HS
  Cieron Bell	Ayr RFC
  Ciorstaidh Ainsworth	Stirling County RFC
  Eilidh MacGilvray	Highland RFC
  Ellee Mills	Stirling County RFC
  Ellie Henderson	Annan RFC
  Emelia Knights	Biggar RFC
  Emma Inglis Casey	Cartha QP RFC
  Freya Walker	Stirling County RFC
  Gerry Kimm	Biggar RFC
  Hannah Bruce	Cartha QP RFC
  Hannah Ramsay	Livingston RFC
  Holly McIntyre	Ayr RFC
  Imogen Woods	East Lothian Girls
  Jess Fyfe	Auchterarder
  Kaylee Fraser	Biggar RFC
  Lexie Steel	Annan RFC
  Lily Paterson	Hillhead Jordanhill
  Molly Poolman	Howe Of Fife
  Morgan Nellies	Caithness RFC
  Natasha Logan	Stirling County RFC
  Neve Henderson	Stirling County RFC
  Orla Proctor	Stirling County RFC
  Rachel Philipps	Biggar RFC
  Rhea Clarke	Stirling County RFC
  Roma Fraser	Auchterarder
  Rosa Cobban	Cartha QP RFC
  Shannon Pasotti	Caithness RFC
  Siobhann McGinley	Hillhead Jordanhill