Forrest names squad for final Rugby Europe Grand Prix leg

At the first leg in Marcoussis in June, Scotland came 6^th. The result means that they are the highest ranked non-World Series core nation going into the second leg this weekend.

If Scotland finish the Grand Prix as a top three non-World Series core nation, they will be invited to the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series Qualifiers in 2020. If they are the top non-World Series Core nation, they will be invited again to the last leg of the World Rugby Women’s Sevens series in France in 2020.

For the second leg of the Rugby Europe Grand Prix Series, Scotland have been placed in Pool A with France, Poland and hosts Ukraine.

18 year old Meryl Smith, who made her debut for Scotland Women 7s at the World Series leg in Biarritz will return to the squad.

Lana Skeldon, Scotland Women hooker, who has been capped 34 times for the National XVs squad, will be hoping to receive her first 7s cap.

Skeldon, who has been training with the Scotland Women’s squad since May, is excited about the opportunity. She said “I am really excited about this opportunity to challenge myself on the 7s circuit. I have always wanted to play both XVs and 7s but it has taken both time and patience with a lot of hard work and effort to get myself to a standard that is good enough.

“The girls in the squad have been extremely supportive and with it being my first year training with them and I have learnt a lot from them all. I’m ready to go out there and give it my best and add my own twist to the squad.”

Helen Nelson, will continue as captain with the rest of the squad unchanged.

Nelson will be joined by Abi Evans, Megan Gaffney, Lisa Thomson, Jenny Maxwell, Chloe Rollie, Hannah Smith, Rachel McLachlan, Liz Musgrove and Rhona Lloyd. All of which played in Marcoussis last month.

Head Coach Scott Forrest said, “We are going into Leg 2 of the Rugby Europe Grand Prix in a positive place thanks to our finish last month.

“If we can hold this standard and play the way that we have been playing, I am confident that we will be able to get a place in the 2020 World Series qualifiers again.

“I am excited to welcome Lana into the 7s squad. She has worked incredibly hard over the last few months and I think she will be a real asset to the squad.”

Scotland Sevens squad to travel to Kharkiv

Abi Evans (Hillhead Jordanhill)
Megan Gaffney (Watsonians)
Rhona Lloyd (Loughborough Lightning)
Jenny Maxwell (Loughborough Lightning)
Rachel McLachlan (Stirling County)
Liz Musgrove (Hong Kong RFC)
Helen Nelson** (Montpellier)
Chloe Rollie** (Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvios)
Lana Skeldon** (Watsonians)
Hannah Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill)
Meryl Smith (Murrayfield Wanderers)
Lisa Thomson** (Darlington Mowden Park RFC)

** 2021 Supported Contract 2018/19