Scotland side named for Women’s Summer Series opener

University of Edinburgh duo Poppy Fletcher and Hannah Walker have been named as co-captains, and both earn a starting position in the matchday 23.

Joining Fletcher in the front-row is her fellow University team-mate, Aila Ronald, who starts at hooker, with Stirling County’s Eilidh Fleming completing the head of the scrum.

In the second row, Natasha Logan and Holland Bogan will link up, followed by Lauryn Walter and Merryn Gunderson, who take position in the back row, anchored by Megan Hyland at number eight.

Once Celtic Challenge rivals at Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors, Leia Brebner-Holden and Ceitidh Ainsworth will now partner as scrum-half and stand-off respectively.

Lucy MacRae and Nicole Flynn will continue their centre partnership, often seen for the University of Edinburgh.

Completing the starting XV are Walker and Sky Phimister, who take to the wings, and Lucia Scott who starts at full-back.

The bench is comprised of five forwards and three backs. Experienced full-back Nicole Marlow is joined by scrum-half replacement Rebekah Douglas and stand-off, Hannah Ramsay.

Karis Craig, Chloe Brown, Molly Poolman, Talei Tawake and Gemma Bell complete the matchday squad as forward replacements.

Head Coach, Claire Cruikshank, said: “We are excited to get our Women’s Summer Series campaign off the ground on Thursday.

“Every single player – not just the matchday 23 – has trained well over the past few months to get us to this point and we’re looking forward to testing ourselves with this initial opportunity against Italy.

“Whilst we played against Italy last year in our Tri-Nations experience, this will be a new challenge for the group, but one we are ready to face head-on.”

Scotland Women U20 team to face Italy at Sergio Lanfranchi Stadium, Parma (kick off 8pm BST) – live on scottishrugby.org.

15. Lucia Scott (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury)

14. Sky Phimister (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)*
13. Nicole Flynn (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby)*
12. Lucy MacRae (University of Edinburgh/Glasgow Warriors)*
11. Hannah Walker CO-CAPTAIN (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby)*

10. Ceitidh Ainsworth (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)*
9. Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester Hartpury/Edinburgh Rugby)

1. Poppy Fletcher CO-CAPTAIN (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby)*
2. Aila Ronald (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby)*
3. Eilidh Fleming (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)*
4. Holland Bogan (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)*
5. Natasha Logan (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby)*
6. Merryn Gunderson (Corstorphine Cougars/Edinburgh Rugby)*
7. Lauryn Walter (Brunel University/Ealing Trailfinders)
8. Megan Hyland (Garioch/Glasgow Warriors)*

Replacements

16. Karis Craig (Watsonian FC/Glasgow Warriors)*
17. Chloe Brown (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors)*
18. Molly Poolman (Watsonian FC/Edinburgh Rugby)*
19. Talei Tawake (Watsonian FC)*
20. Gemma Bell (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury/Edinburgh Rugby)
21. Rebekah Douglas (Corstorphine Cougars/Glasgow Warriors)*
22. Hannah Ramsay (Unattached/Edinburgh Rugby)*
23. Nicole Marlow (Cardiff Metropolitan University/Edinburgh Rugby)

*Regional Training Centre supported player