Girls Regional Game Series: Player Feature | Poppy Mellanby

MOTHERWELL, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 16: Poppy Mellanby during a Glasgow Warriors Women training session at Ravenscraig, on December 16, 2024, in Motherwell, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

Since participating in the programme, the young stand-off has gone on to earn age-grade honours with Scotland Women U18, playing in the Six Nations Festival in 2024 and this year she became Glasgow Warriors youngest debutant in the Celtic Challenge.

Now in its third year, the Series aligns closely with the Women’s & Girls’ Strategy and has been developed collaboratively by Scottish Rugby’s Rugby Development and High Performance departments. It provides a competitive platform for young players across Scotland, ensuring that geographical limitations do not hinder the development of emerging talent.

For Poppy, rugby has been a central part of her life from an early age. Growing up in Biggar, a town with a strong rugby tradition, she was naturally drawn to the sport.

“I’m from Biggar, so obviously that’s a really big rugby community, so that’s obviously been a big influence alongside the fact my mum was one of the coaches at the minis section,” she explains.

“My brother started first and then mum brought me along, and just really quickly I loved it. I went through the age groups at the club from there.”

Poppy Mellanby ready to represent Glasgow Warriors in the Celtic Challenge 2024/25.

Transitioning from club rugby to the Regional Game Series was a significant step in Poppy’s development. It exposed her to a wider network of players and a higher level of competition.

“Coming from a club where you know your teammates to the Regional Game Series where you’re mixing with so many different people was really nice. We made bonds quickly.”

Beyond the on-field experience, the Series played a crucial role in Poppy’s growth as a player. It provided a structured environment where she could refine her skills and adapt to diverse coaching styles.

“I think one of the best things was experiencing new coaching styles and ways of playing; it was really fun to adapt to that. I think if you have an area of your game you want to work on, the Regional Game Series is a great place to do that. For me, it was with my kicking. It’s a great environment to grow and try new things.”

The benefits of the Series extend beyond just skill development; it builds confidence and resilience in young players. For Poppy, learning to integrate into new teams and assert herself on the field were crucial takeaways.

“It’s given me a lot of confidence – adapting to new people, trying to assert yourself as a player so that I could get what I wanted from the experience. I could definitely feel myself improving from those experiences when I went back to my club.”

The Girls Regional Game Series continues to play an instrumental role in developing Scotland’s next generation of female rugby players, with the latest iteration kicking-off this weekend in Inverness at Highland Rugby Club.

Find out more, here.