Rhona back in the Scotland groove

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Scotland's Rhona Lloyd celebrates after scoring a first half try during a friendly match between Scotland Women and Spain Women at the Hive Stadium, on September 30, 2023, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)

It means she’ll hopefully have a big part to play in Paris next year, but coming back to represent Scotland ahead of World Rugby’s new global competition, WXV 2, is of equal importance to the 43-times capped winger.

As the 26-year-old explained what it means to her to don the Thistle: “This last year, I haven’t been with Scotland at all and I’ve really missed being around it. All of my best friends are here, this team has been such a big part of my life and when the calendars came out for this season, for Scotland and the 7s, knowing it aligned made me so grateful.”

Lloyd’s try-scoring abilities were on full display in Scotland’s Autumn Test fixture against Spain at Hive Stadium last month, with the winger marking her 100th point for Scotland in style, showing an incredible turn in pace to sprint down the pitch and evade a number of defenders before scoring.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 30: Scotland’s Rhona Lloyd scores a first half try during a friendly match between Scotland Women and Spain Women at the Hive Stadium, on September 30, 2023, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)

Rhona may have not enjoyed a playing brief during Scotland’s 2023 to date, but her desire to support her teammates saw her turn out as a supporter for some big occasions: “Oh yeah, I was number one fan! Lisa Thomson’s 50^th cap in France – I got my first cap with her – that was important to be there for that, then Nelly’s [Helen Nelson] 50^th as well here. I was with all the parents and obviously I was a fan, but a fan with a lot of investment in the game!

“It was cracking me up, being next to the parents and hearing what they say to each other during a game. It was tough to not be on the pitch but I made the most of being in the fan club.”

It means a whole lot to Rhona, being Scottish. Wherever she is and whomever she is competing for, it’s important that she demonstrates as much: “Being Scottish is my favourite hobby, definitely. With the 7s it was very important to me to have young girls in Scotland being able to see Scottish players on the world stage.

“I didn’t grow up seeing girls play at a World Cup, I watched the 2016 Olympics without a single Scottish player in the team, so if you ask my 7s teammates they’ll tell you about all the Scottish music we listen to just about everywhere we go. I’m learning to play the bagpipes as well – it’s almost like since taking that step away briefly, it’s made me appreciate how lucky we are in this country to have the culture that we do and all the traditions.

“I’m very passionate about young girls seeing Scottish women competing on the biggest stage. Having this break has made me appreciate just how important this team is to me and I’m buzzing to get the opportunity again.”

Scotland get underway with their WXV 2 campaign this week, as they take on hosts, South Africa, at Danie Craven Stadium on Friday 13 October (kick-off 3.30pm UK time), with supporters being able to watch all the action on RugbyPass TV. For an explainer on World Rugby’s new competition, including details on all of Scotland’s fixtures and opponents, click HERE.