Dalgliesh names extended training Squad ahead of Six Nations Women’s Summer Series

Scotland's Megan Hyland comes up against Nicole Mastrangelo of Italy at the Six Nations Women's Summer Series between Italy and Scotland in Parma, Italy Thursday, July 4th, 2024 (Photo by Ben Brady / Inpho)

The selected group of 35 players will assemble for a comprehensive series of residential and non-residential training camps in the lead-up to the competition. The series will provide a crucial development opportunity for emerging talent and a platform to build on last year’s performances.

Speaking on the selected squad, Dalgliesh said: “We’re really excited by this group of players, who all have a lot of experience playing in performance environments whether that be through Vodafone Regional Training Centres through the Celtic Challenge, BUCS Super Rugby and previous age-grade international representation. That gives us a level of readiness for what’s to come with the competition but I believe this group has much more space to grow.

“We’re looking forward to being able to kick on in our preparations through our training camps. They will give the players time to pull together on and off the field, and us as coaches the chance to get our messages across and start shaping how we want the team to play.”

Among those selected, 16 players were involved with the Glasgow Warriors during the 2024/25 Celtic Challenge: Ceitidh Ainsworth, Poppy Clarkson, Emily Coubrough, Rebekah Douglas, Rianna Darroch, Megan Hyland, Eilidh Fleming, Nicole Flynn, Poppy Fletcher, Emily Norval, Poppy Mellanby, Aicha Sutcliffe, Millie Warren and Aisha Zameer.

A further 10 players featured in the Edinburgh Rugby squad: Lisa Brown, Karis Craig, Merryn Gunderson, Emily Love, Lucy MacRae, Nicole Marlow, Holly McIntyre, Megan Riach, Charlotte Russell, Faye Sutherland.

The squad also boasts continuity from previous campaigns, with 11 players having participated in the 2024 Six Nations Summer Series: Ceitidh Ainsworth, Lucy MacRae, Megan Hyland, Poppy Fletcher, Poppy Clarkson, Eilidh Fleming, Karis Craig, Merryn Gunderson, Nicole Marlow, Nicole Flynn and Rebekah Douglas.

Reflecting the development of the women’s pathway, 13 of the selected players were part of the Scotland Women U18 squad that competed in last year’s U18 Six Nations Festival: Charlotte Russell, Emily Coubrough, Gemma Thomson, Holly Wilson, Louise Taperell, Megan Riach, Sophie Price, Emily Love, Emily Norval, Faye Sutherland, Lisa Brown, Poppy Mellanby and Rianna Darroch.

Additionally, Brown, Thomson and Mellanby featured again at this year’s U18 Festival, alongside Scarlett Haddow, who has now earned a call-up to the U20 extended training squad.

Details of the Six Nations Women’s Summer Series fixtures and locations will be confirmed in due course.

Scotland Women U20 Extended Training Squad

Backs

Ceitidh Ainsworth (Stirling County RFC)*
Lisa Brown (University of Edinburgh)*
Rianna Darroch (Hillhead Jordanhill)*
Rebekah Douglas (Stirling County)*
Nicole Flynn (University of Edinburgh)*
Scarlett Haddow (Stirling County)*
Emily Love (Corstorphine Cougars)*
Freya MacColl (Loughborough University)
Lucy MacRae (University of Edinburgh)*
Nicole Marlow (Cardiff Met University)
Holly McIntyre (University of Edinburgh)*
Poppy Mellanby (Biggar RFC)*
Emily Norval (Stirling County)*
Morven Thomson (Heriots Rugby)
Millie Warren (Hillhead Jordanhill)

Forwards

Poppy Clarkson (Biggar RFC)*
Emily Coubrough (University of Edinburgh)*
Karis Craig (Watsonian FC)*
Lily Crisp (Loughborough University)
Erin Croke (Sacred Heart University)
Eilidh Fleming (Stirling County)*
Poppy Fletcher (University of Edinburgh)*
Merryn Gunderson (Corstorphine Cougars)*
Megan Hyland (Garioch)*
Kaylee McHugh (Ealing Trailfinders)
Sophie Price (Hillhead Jordanhill)*
Megan Riach (Garioch)*
Charlotte Russell (Watsonian FC)*
Aicha Sutcliffe (Stirling County)
Faye Sutherland (Corstorphine Cougars)*
Louise Taperell (West of Scotland)*
Gemma Thomson (Stirling County RFC)*
Isobel Twigger (Brunel University)
Holly Wilson (Biggar RFC)*
Aisha Zameer (Hillhead Jordanhill)

*Vodafone Regional Training Centre supported player