Head Coach Bryan Easson announced Scotland's 32 players for the Women's Rugby World Cup Femenina 2025, that kicks off in Sunderland, England on August 22.
Captain Rachel Malcolm leads a squad with 18 forwards and 14 backs in a Group B campaign; Scotland will first play Wales in Salford, on August 23, followed by games against Fiji and the second best team in the world, Canada.
Hooker Lana Skeldon is the most-capped member of the squad with 81 matches for Scotland, while nine players have amassed more than 50 appearances.
Flanker Malcolm is one of 21 players to have appeared at Rugby World Cup 2021, which was played in 2022 due to Covid. Other than the captain, the other forwards selected for their second Rugby World Cups are Leah Bartlett, Molly Wright (props) Elis Martin, Lana Skeldon (hookers), Jade Konkel, Rachel McLachlan (back row), Eva Donaldson, Sarah Bonar and Emma Wassell (second row). Among the backs returning for a second Rugby World Cup are vice-captain Helen Nelson (fly-half), Coreen Grant, Rhona Lloyd (wings), Emma Orr, Evie Wills, Lisa Thomson (centres) and Caity Mattinson (scrum-half).
Emma Wassell's selection caps a remarkable personal comeback, having made her way back to international rugby after recovering from a benign tumour in her chest last September.
Walker and Clarke sisters create headlines for Scots
At the other end of the experience spectrum, wing Hannah Walker is the only uncapped player selected, while Hannah Ramsay earned her first two caps during Scotland’s summer tests against Italy and Ireland. The other players preparing for Rugby World Cup debuts are Becky Boyd, Adelle Ferrie (second row), Lisa Cockburn, Molly Poolman (props), Beth Blacklock (fly-half/centre), Leia Brebner-Holden, Rhea Clarke (scrum-half), Francesca McGhie, Hannah Walker (wings), Hannah Ramsay (flay-half) and back row duo Evie Gallagher and Alex Stewart.
Meanwhile, Elliann and Rhea Clarke make history as the first Scottish sisters to be selected for the same Rugby World Cup tournament.
The 32-player strong group contains five players who have featured for Edinburgh Rugby in the 2024/25 season of the Celtic Challenge.
Scotland squad
(Caps) * played in the previous Rugby World Cup
Forwards
Leah Bartlett – Leicester Tigers (45)*
Becky Boyd – Loughborough Lightning (3)
Sarah Bonar – Harlequins (47)*
Elliann Clarke – Bristol Bears (22)*
Lisa Cockburn – Gloucester Hartpury (34)
Eva Donaldson – Sale Sharks (17)*
Evie Gallagher – Bristol Bears (37)
Adelle Ferrie – Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars (6)
Jade Konkel – Harlequins (71)*
Rachel Malcolm – captain - Trailfinders Women (58)*
Elis Martin – Loughborough Lightning (22)*
Rachel McLachlan – Montpellier (53)*
Molly Poolman – Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC (5)
Lana Skeldon – Bristol Bears (81)*
Alex Stewart – Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars (13)
Emma Wassell – Trailfinders Women (69)*
Molly Wright – Sale Sharks (24)*
Anne Young – Loughborough Lightning (21)*
Backs
Leia Brebner-Holden – Loughborough Lightning (11)
Beth Blacklock – Saracens (4)
Rhea Clarke – Bristol Bears (1)
Coreen Grant – Harlequins (17)*
Rhona Lloyd – Sale Sharks (59)*
Caity Mattinson – Trailfinders Women (33)*
Francesca McGhie – Trailfinders Women (22)
Helen Nelson – Loughborough Lightning (71)*
Hannah Ramsay – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (2)
Chloe Rollie – Toulon Provence Mediterranee (77)*
Emma Orr – Bristol Bears (30)*
Lisa Thomson – Trailfinders Women (71)*
Hannah Walker – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (uncapped)
Evie Wills – Sale Sharks (6)*
