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Bryan Easson names Scotland squad to defend WXV 2 title
By Imogen Ainsworth
Scotland will travel to South Africa in September to defend their WXV 2 title, kicking off their campaign on Saturday 28 September against last year’s runners-up on points difference Italy at DHL Stadium.
They will then play their next two games at Athlone Stadium, facing Japan on Saturday 5 October and Australia on Saturday 12 October.
Three players who represented Scotland U20 during the Six Nations Summer Series have earned themselves a call-up to the senior squad for the upcoming Test fixtures.
Aila Ronald, Lucia Scott, and Leia Brebner-Holden all represented the age-group side in the inaugural Summer Series in Parma and will make the step up ahead of WXV.
Alongside them, uncapped Rachel Philipps has also been called up. Philipps represented Edinburgh in the Celtic Challenge, and signed for Premiership Women’s Rugby side Sale Sharks ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Harlequins forwards Jade Konkel and Sarah Bonar both return to the Scotland squad following injury, with Konkel expected to make her first appearance since WXV 2 in 2023.
Lisa Thomson, fresh from representing Team GB Sevens at her second Olympic Games, makes her return to the XVs game and is joined in the Scotland squad by a further 12 backs.
In the 30-player squad, 25 players are currently at clubs in the English PWR league. Six Loughborough Lightning players are included as well as five players from 2024 runners-up Bristol Bears.
Last season’s league debutantes Leicester Tigers and Trailfinders Women both have three players in the squad, while champions Gloucester-Hartpury and Saracens are each represented by two players.
Philipps and Mairi McDonald are the sole Sale Sharks and Exeter Chiefs representatives respectively, and Konkel and Bonar are the two players swapping the Harlequins quarters for their national jersey this autumn.
Prior to their departure to South Africa, Scotland will make history in their warm-up fixtures. After hosting this year’s WXV 2 counterparts Wales at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh on Friday 6 September, Scotland Women will face Fiji for the first time ever.
Fijiana, who are competing in WXV 3 this year, will line up against Bryan Easson’s side at Edinburgh’s Hive Stadium on Saturday 14 September.
This year's WXV adds the importance of vital preparation for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, which will be held in England from 22 August until 27 September. Register your interest for tickets to the biggest Women's Rugby World Cup to date here.
Tickets for WXV 2 are available now and are sold per round, starting at R35 for adults. Find out more and book your tickets here.
Scotland Women's squad for WXV 2
Forwards
Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers)
Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning)
Sarah Bonar (Harlequins)
Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears)
Lisa Cockburn (Unattached)
Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers)
Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears)
Jade Konkel (Harlequins)
Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning)
Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning)
Fiona McIntosh (Saracens)
Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier)
Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears)
Aila Ronald (University of Edinburgh)*
Alex Stewart (Corstorphine Cougars)
Emma Wassell (Loughborough Lightning)
Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning)
Backs
Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester-Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers)*
Coreen Grant (Saracens)
Caity Mattinson (Ealing Trailfinders)
Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs)
Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers)
Rhona Lloyd (GB 7s/ Stade Bordelais)
Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning)
Emma Orr (Bristol Bears)
Rachel Philipps (Sale Sharks)*
Lisa Thomson (GB 7s/Ealing Trailfinders)
Chloe Rollie (Ealing Trailfinders)
Lucia Scott (Hartpury University/Gloucester-Hartpury)*
Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears)
*Uncapped
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Latest Comments
Hopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
Go to commentsNot surprised to see Barretts rating. He has always been a solid defender for the ABs but not particularly effective in attack situations.
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