Dalgliesh names team for U21 Series opener at Hive

This weekend marks the first of three fixtures, with the team travelling to France in a fortnight before finishing back at Hive Stadium on Sunday 10 May.

Megan Hyland will captain the side from hooker, with number 8 Catriona Moody and inside centre Lucy MacRae named as vice-captains.

Hyland is joined in the front row by Poppy Fletcher at loosehead prop and Faye Sutherland at tighthead prop.

Charlotte Russell is joined by Gemma Thomson to make up the second row partnership.

Scarlet Down starts at blindside flanker, and Isobel Twigger is at openside flanker to make up the back row with number 8 Moody.

In the backs, Emily Love is at scrum-half, paired with stand-off Poppy Mellanby in the half-backs.

Inside centre MacRae will work with outside centre Nicole Flynn in the midfield. Scarlett Haddow is on the left wing, with Sky Phimister on the right, and the team is completed by Freya MacColl at full-back.

Aila Ronald, Talei Tawake and Imogen Spence are the front row replacements on the bench as Ailsa Merryweather and Lucy Finch also primed to come on in the pack.

Replacement backs Ceitidh Ainsworth, Lisa Brown and Hannah Smyth complete the 23.

Scotland U21 team to play England U21 in the Women’s Six Nations U21 Summer Series at Hive Stadium on Saturday (kick off 11am) – live on YouTube

15. Freya MacColl (Loughborough Lightning/Loughborough University)
14. Sky Phimister (Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County)
13. Nicole Flynn (Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh)
12. Lucy MacRae – Vice-Captain (Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh)
11. Scarlett Haddow (Edinburgh Rugby/Stirling County)

10. Poppy Mellanby (Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh)
9. Emily Love (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC)

1. Poppy Fletcher (Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh)
2. Megan Hyland – Captain (Glasgow Warriors/Heriots Rugby Club)
3. Faye Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby/Heriots Rugby Club)
4. Charlotte Russell (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC)
5. Gemma Thomson (Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County)
6. Scarlet Down (Brunel University/Trailfinders Women)
7. Isobel Twigger (Brunel University)
8. Catriona Moody (Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh)

Replacements

16. Aila Ronald (Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh)
17. Talei Tawake (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC)
18. Imogen Spence (Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh)
19. Aisla Merryweather (Glasgow Warriors/Surrey University)
20. Lucy Finch (Loughborough Lightning/Loughborough University)
21. Ceitidh Ainsworth (Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County)
22. Lisa Brown (Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh)
23. Hannah Smyth (Glasgow Warriors/Hartpury University)