A tune for the Female Warrior in us

22 Aug 2025

On the eve of a new chapter for women’s rugby in Scotland, a song has emerged to mark the moment. Yon Golden Dawn, recorded by Claire Hastings and all-female ensemble Ban-Laoch (which in Gaelic means ‘Female Warrior’) is more than an anthem for women’s rugby - it’s a heartfelt tribute to Eva Donaldson, her teammates, and the sacrifices behind their rise from Stirling County’s grassroots pitches to the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 07: Eva Donaldson during a Scotland Women's World Cup squad announcement at the Old Course, on August 07, 2025, in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

Ray Donaldson, Eva’s father, had secretly been working on the project for months with his brother Ian. Drawing inspiration from Eva’s first games at Stirling County Rugby Club to the international stage of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, he set out to create something enduring.

Without telling Eva, he enlisted support from her former County and current Scotland teammates – Evie Wills, Evie Gallagher, Elliann and Rhea Clarke – and then collaborated with former BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, Claire Hastings.

Eva found out about the project it in the most unexpected way.

“I found out on text during camp time, he woke me up with a million texts at like seven in the morning.”

Her first reaction was a mix of embarrassment and hesitation. She worried her dad might be stepping on the toes of resident squad musician Rhona (and the Whales) who often writes songs for the team. But once she heard the finished track, her doubts melted away.

“I absolutely love it. I can tell how much work he has put into it. They spent so much time going through the Scottish Rugby website, the girls gave him ideas, he went through our socials to see what words we use or phrases that mean a lot, and you can tell because that comes through the lyrics.

“Dad obviously then researched singers and found Claire, and she was keen to get involved so the whole thing flew from there.”

Eva with her parents after being presented with her first Scotland cap.

At the core of Yon Golden Dawn are lyrics that echo the determination the team has to inspire and perform on the global stage: “Oh let them see what she can be” and “The day that counts is now.” For Eva, those words resonate deeply.

“Music means so much to this squad, especially Scottish music. To have this song that’s about us, about our team, and one that isn’t just a made-up song that we sing on the bus, it’s one our fans can listen to, it’s so special. It’s so sentimental.

“The lyrics, especially ‘Oh let them see what she can be’, that just sums us up. We are so driven by inspiring the next generation. That’s one of the biggest motivations for us in the Scotland shirt.”

Her connection to the song runs deeper still, rooted in her early years at Stirling County. She recalls how rugby began as a bit of fun but soon turned into a passion, with her parents sacrificing time and energy to support her ambitions.

“Originally I just started rugby for fun, but it quickly became more serious, I would be at the gym three times a week before school. My mum and dad would drop everything to help me do that, they would get up at like 5.30 in the morning to take me there, pick me up and take me to school in Callander, so that’s like 45/50 minutes. I forget sometimes how much they sacrificed to give that to me.”

Eva with her parents, after representing Scotland during her age-grade rugby.

Those sacrifices, Eva says, made her career possible – and they mirror the kind of devotion her father poured into this song.

“I think my Dad loves to go above and beyond, it will never just be a card with a good luck message, he will always think of something out of the box and that is exactly what he has done. It’s not been about him, it’s been about what ‘will the girls want and what will Scotland want’.

“I really hope that people who are fans of Scottish music, who maybe haven’t watched women’s rugby before, that this song is a bit of a gateway to us and it inspires people to get behind the team at the World Cup. This could be a great way to bring new fans and connect us all.”

As the song is released onto all major music streaming platforms today, it carries with it the pride of a father, the gratitude of a daughter, and the collective spirit of a team breaking boundaries on the world stage.

Or, as Eva puts it simply: “I guess I want to say thanks to my Dad. It’s pretty incredible what he has done, and it’s not just for me. It’s for the squad, it’s for our fans and it’s for Scotland.”