Exciting opportunities ahead for Scottish Futures programme

The women and girls' performance pathways programmes are up and running ahead of the inaugural U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival in Edinburgh and the Scottish Futures match against England U20 this weekend (Saturday 19 March, kick-off 2pm).

Scottish Futures is a performance player development programme with a focus on rugby skills, game understanding and behaviours needed to succeed in a high-performance environment.

The programme aim is to support those players with the potential to play for Scotland, with a focus on the physical demands, tactical decision making, technical skill and positive behaviours at a relevant age and stage. Players deliver these core areas of performance development as part of a team, through training camps and international game opportunities.

Scottish Senior Futures

Scottish Senior Futures travel to Darlington this weekend as they take on England U20 at The Darlington Arena (kick-off 2pm).

Scottish Futures coaches Graeme Blackhall, Thomas Davidson and Stuart Corsar have named a number of Scotland internationalists, with Panashe Muzambe, Anne Young, Lucy Winter and Liz Musgrove included in the team.

Muzambe packs down alongside Edinburgh University duo Elis Martin and Anne Young in the front-row, with Charlotte Boan and Erinn Foley linking-up in the second row.

Captain Lucy Winter joins Jess Fyfe and Freya Walker in the back-row to form the remainder of the pack.

Scrum-half Rhea Clarke forms a half-back partnership with vice-captain Beth Street, while Fran McGhie partners Giselle Chicot in midfield.

The back-three sees Evie Tonkin named at full-back, with Cieron Bell and Roma Fraser lining up on the wing.

Entry to tomorrow’s match at The Darlington Arena is free of charge, with further match-day information available HERE.

Scottish Senior Futures side for the England U20 match

15. Evie Tonkin (Sale Sharks)

14. Roma Fraser (Cartha Queens Park)
13. Giselle Chicot (Heriot’s)
12. Fran McGhie (Watsonians)
11. Cieron Bell (Edinburgh University)

10. Beth Street VICE CAPTAIN (Stirling County)
9. Rhea Clarke (Edinburgh University)

1. Panashe Muzambe (Garioch)
2. Elis Martin (Edinburgh University)
3. Anne Young (Edinburgh University)
4. Charlotte Boan (Cartha Queens Park)
5. Erinn Foley (West of Scotland)
6. Jess Fyfe (Cartha Queens Park)
7. Lucy Winter CAPTAIN (Sale Sharks)
8. Freya Walker (Watsonians)

Replacements

16. Katie Lindsay (Stirling County)
17. Lindsey McDiarmid (Garioch)
18. Elliann Clarke (Edinburgh University)
19. Kaylee Fraser (Corstorphine Cougars)
20. Natasha Logan (Edinburgh University)
21. Alex Watson (West of Scotland)
22. Rachel Law (Watsonians)
23. Holly McIntyre (Edinburgh University)
24. Meryl Smith (Edinburgh University)
25. Liz Musgrove (Watsonians)

* Travelling Reserves: Abbe Bruce (Edinburgh University), Sarah Donnelly (Watsonians).

Scotland U18

A 32-player wider squad has been named ahead of the U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival, with Scotland’s preparations already under way.

The Scotland U18 group completed a two-day residential camp in Largs at the start of February to begin their journey towards the festival.

They also went to a combined training session with England in February. The group took part in a break-out forward session, focusing on developing scrummage techniques, before playing four twenty-minute games with variations of rules.

The festival will begin on Saturday 9 April, with Scotland facing Wales and Italy on the opening day before facing Italy on Wednesday 13 April.

Scotland U18 Training Squad

Alex Stewart (Edinburgh Harlequins)

April McKenzie (Garioch Ladies)

Brodie Fergusson (Dumfries Saints)

Brogan Henderson (Stirling County)

Carla McDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill)

Ceitidh Ainsworth (Stirling County)

Charlotte Gilmour (Strathallan School)

Chloe Brown (Stirling County)

Eilidh Fleming (Stirling County)

Elsa Quigley (Stirling County)