Molly Poolman reflects on Scotland Women journey ahead of upcoming Vodafone Scotland WXV Series

The tighthead prop has come a long way in the 15 months since making her senior Scotland Women debut, with the chance to now face some of the world’s toughest sides.

Coming off the bench against France in La Rochelle during the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations marked the start of Molly’s Scotland journey.

Since then, the 22-year-old has made 12 appearances in total, including two at last year’s Rugby World Cup, where Scotland reached the quarter-finals.

Get your tickets for the Vodafone Scotland WXV Series matches against Canada, New Zealand and Australia at Hive Stadium here!

“The World Cup last year,” Molly replied when asked what defining moment helped her realise the opportunity she has as part of this squad. “I didn’t play the first two games when we were in Manchester, but I played the third game against Canada.

“To make my World Cup debut and to perform on that world stage, it just made me want to keep doing it as much as I can.

“If you had told me when I made my debut that I would still be around, I would probably have said ‘really?’ but I am so excited. It’s amazing to have another opportunity to put on that jersey and to play for my country.”

A defining moment of her career came just a few months ago when she scored Scotland’s first try against Italy in Parma during the 2026 Guinness Six Nations.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Scottish Rugby (@scotlandteam)

Another memorable moment came just a few months ago when she scored Scotland’s second try against Italy in Parma in the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

The outrageous dummy deservedly got Molly attention across the rugby world and won try of the round during this year’s Championship.

“Everybody was saying I got a bit of an ego from it!” she enthused. “My phone was literally buzzing the whole day, and I had to turn it off because I was in the middle of writing my dissertation.

“It was definitely a defining moment. I think it’s what people know me for now, which is fun and cool but I’m scared people think I’m going to throw a dummy all the time.

“It really did show me what I can do and what I want to do on the pitch.

“It was a personal thing for me too because I was pretty scared to play in Parma because the last time I was there I did my ankle really badly. On our captain run, I kept thinking: ‘this is where it happened’ so now I’m glad I have this really good memory of that pitch and it’s debunked that whole other situation.”

A year on from that World Cup meeting with Canada, the Edinburgh Rugby player will be hoping to face the same opposition at Hive on Saturday 12 September.

“Playing Canada again a year on feels really exciting because we know what we can do against them and we feel like we could have done more in the game at the World Cup,” Molly said.

“We’re raring to go against them, especially when we are playing at home in front of our fans at the Hive.”

So as the Vodafone Scotland WXV Series opener gets closer and she prepares to face Canada once more – with so many experiences gained since she last faced the same opposition – what would Molly tell her former self?

“I would tell her to buckle up because she’s going to be playing almost 70 minutes against Canada at a World Cup because she was not expecting that!” she answered with a laugh.

“But I’d tell her that everything happens for a reason. I’d tell her that you know what you’re there to do and to keep going – to keep playing the way she knows she can play and don’t let anyone tell you differently.”

It is not just Canada who Molly is looking forward to taking on at the Hive, with New Zealand and Australia also heading to Edinburgh.

She believes the opportunity to test herself against some of the world’s best can only benefit her development.

“It just gives me more and more ambition to keep going,” Molly added. “If I compete against these teams at this level now, then it’ll put me in good stead down the line.

“As a front row, you do develop when you’re a bit older, so having this opportunity to compete against these teams now makes me think of where I might be able to push myself to in three or four years’ time.

“During the campaign, I just want to push for selection and to be on that team sheet, so I have the opportunity to show myself as a player.”

In facing New Zealand, Molly is hoping to gain what would undoubtedly become a lifelong memory – standing opposite the Black Ferns’ haka.

It will be the first time that New Zealand have lined up against Scotland Women on Scottish soil.

“If I get that opportunity, I really can’t wait,” she explained. “It’s going to be a huge honour to stand there.

“I think back to when the All Blacks played at Murrayfield and I was at one of the highest points of Scottish Gas Murrayfield and I had goosebumps.

“I don’t know how it’ll feel to have that in front of me. I think I’ll be quite nervous, but I’ll take it in my stride because what an honour it will be if the opportunity comes.”

Join Molly and the rest of the Scotland Women squad at Hive Stadium throughout September when they face Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Get your tickets here!