Girls Regional Game Series squads announced for 2024 programme
Lead Coaches for the three U18 teams and four U16 teams in this year’s Girls Regional Game Series have announced their training squads today, ahead of Round 1, which begins this weekend.
Selected players were nominated by their coaches to attend a regional assessment session, where their skillset was tested and monitored to allow coaches to make an informed selection.
Across the seven squads, 149 players have been selected. Of the players, 38 are supported through Scottish Rugby’s Regional Training Centres, which forms as part of the Women’s and Girls performance pathway.
Ahead of the programme starting, Scottish Rugby’s Performance Pathway Programme Manager, Robbie Lavery, said: “I’m really looking forward to the programme returning this weekend. The Series is a fantastic development for the Pathway Programme, as it allows some of our best young talent a platform to play against each other, enhance their game play opportunities at an intensity higher than they have experienced within their local environments to date.
“I’d like to thank all those clubs, coaches and players who nominated and attended the assessment days across the country, with special thanks to our Scottish Rugby staff and volunteers for their work in getting us to this point.
“Coaches and players alike will be very excited to get underway, and I know I am looking forward to seeing everyone in action.”
In each of the U18 sides, 23 players have been selected.
In the Caledonia Midlands U16 side, Lead Coach, Sarah Hogwood has selected players from Dunfermline, Falkirk, Glenrothes, Perthshire, Stirling County, Strathendrick.
Arthur Allen, who is Lead Coach for the East U16 side, has selected players from Broughmuir, Currie Chieftains, Edinburgh Harlequins, Gala, Kelso, Murrayfield Wanderers, and Peebles and Preston Lodge.
The U16 Caledonia North team, led by Paul Braithwaite, will see players come together from Caithness, Ellon, Garioch, Highland, Moray, Lochaber, Orkney, and Shetland.
Stephen Gillies’ U16 West squad combines talent from Annan, Biggar, Cambuslang, Cartha Queens Park, Dumfries Saints, GHA, Newton Stewart, and Wigtownshire.
The East U18 side, led by Marko Mladenovic, sees players from Biggar, Boroughmuir, Corstorphine Cougars, Gala, Edinburgh Harlequins, Preston Lodge and Murrayfield Wanderers come together.
Frazier Climo’s side sees players selected from Annan, Biggar, Dumfries Saints, Hillhead Jordanhil, Oban and Whitecraigs combined to create the West U18 squad.
The Caledonia U18 team, led by Graham Smith, combines players from Caithness, Ellon, Garioch, Highland, Falkirk, Perthshire, Moray and Stirling County.
Holland Bogan, now aged 18 and playing Senior rugby for Stirling County, was involved in the Series last year before then being selected for the U18 Age Grade Pathway, Scottish Futures Programme, and most recently has been in try-scoring action in the Celtic Challenge for Glasgow Warriors.
Speaking about her experience participating in the Regional Game Series, Holland said: “Playing in the Girls Regional Game Series was really good for gaining exposure playing with and against girls from different clubs. It was a great experience to learn new playing styles and I believe it betters your rugby.
“After the Series I was selected for the U18 programme where I went on to captain the U18 team at the Six Nations Festival. I was also selected for the U18 7s programme and went to Rome with the Scottish Futures to play in the Tri-Nations Series.”
U18 Fixtures
Round 1: Sunday 21 January, Whitecraigs RFC
Round 2: Sunday 28 January, Highland RFC
Round 3: Sunday 11 February, Peffermill Playing Fields
U16 Fixtures
Round 1: Sunday 21 January, Whitecraigs RFC
Round 2: Sunday 28 January, Highland RFC
Round 3: Sunday 11 February, Peffermill Playing Fields
Round 4: Sunday 25 February, Dundee RPC