Chiefs duo in Scotland Women's squad

By Mark Stevens
23/3/23

Exeter Chiefs duo Mairi McDonald and Eilidh Sinclair have both been named on the bench for Scotland Women ahead of their TikTok Women’s Six Nations opener against England in Newcastle on Saturday (4:45pm).

The duo will come up against club-mate Claudia MacDonald, who has been named in the Red Roses starting line-up for the clash at Kingston Park.

Elsewhere, Francesca McGhie will make her Scotland debut on the left wing, fresh from her involvement with Scotland development side ‘The Thistles’ in the recent inaugural Celtic Challenge, with centre Beth Blacklock in line to make her debut off the bench.

In the front row, Lana Skeldon starts at hooker with Leah Bartlett, loosehead prop and Christine Belisle, tighthead, either side of her.Lyndsay O’Donnell and Louise McMillan link up in the second row, whilst Captain Rachel Malcolm, Rachel McLachlan and Evie Gallagher make up the back-row.

Caity Mattinson and Helen Nelson are named at scrum-half and stand-off respectively, while Meryl Smith and Emma Orr chosen as the centre partnership.Joining McGhie in the back three, Coreen Grant will make her first start for Scotland on the right wing with former Chiefs player Chloe Rollie selected at full0back.

Head coach Bryan Easson said: “We’re really excited to play against the best team in the world at a sold-out stadium in Newcastle.It has been really good to integrate the group back together over the last four weeks and to start kicking on for this TikTok Six Nations.We’ve got a lot of new young faces and lot of experience still in here, and a squad who are really excited to get going.”

SCOTLAND WOMEN’S SIDE TO FACE ENGLAND WOMEN

15. Chloe Rollie (Loughborough Lightning) – 52 caps
14. Coreen Grant (Saracens) – 1 cap
13. Emma Orr (Heriot’s Rugby/Biggar) – 6 caps
12. Meryl Smith (University of Edinburgh) – 4 caps
11. Francesca McGhie (Watsonians) – uncapped
10. Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning) – 46 caps
9. Caity Mattinson (Worcester Warriors) – 9 caps
1. Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning) – 21 caps
2. Lana Skeldon (Worcester Warriors) – 57 caps
3. Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning) – 21 caps
4. Lyndsay O’Donnell (Bristol Bears) – 17 caps
5. Louise McMillan (Saracens) – 39 caps
6. Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning, capt) – 33 caps
7. Rachel McLachlan (Sale Sharks) – 31 caps
8. Evie Gallagher (Worcester Warriors) – 13 caps

16. Jodie Rettie (Saracens) – 20 caps
17. Anne Young (Sale Sharks) – 2 caps
18. Elliann Clarke (University of Edinburgh) – 2 caps
19. Eva Donaldson (University of Edinburgh) – 1 cap
20. Eilidh Sinclair (Exeter Chiefs) – 18 caps
21. Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs) – 9 caps
22. Beth Blacklock (Harlequins) – uncapped
23. Liz Musgrove (Wasps) – 11 caps