Rollie’s roots standing her in good stead

Tucked away in the borders town of Jedburgh, Riverside Park is the rugby breeding ground of some of the greats of Scottish rugby. Roy Laidlaw is the storied Grand Slam-winning flag bearer of the town, a ‘Jethart’ whose contribution to the Scottish game is as telling as any other. His nephew Greig was a mainstay of more recent Scotland Men’s sides, and sandwiched between the pair was, of course, Gary Armstrong, hero to so many.

Chloe Rollie will rightfully go down in the same breath as those box office names, a likely centurion and whizz-bang full-back whose energy radiates throughout the national women’s team.

Pictured: Chloe Rollie letting her feelings known as Scotland take on England at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, April 2026.

Taking stock at Jed Forest’s Riverside Park, some 11 years after making her Scotland Women bow, Chloe said: “I think the fact that I’m actually here; it sounds weird, but I think when I was younger, people talk about it being their dream to play for their country, which it was. But I don’t think I realised that until later on. I don’t think I realised that that was the opportunity that was there. Women’s rugby wasn’t a big thing when I was younger, it was more of an enjoyment for me, and you know, a bit of a hobby that I didn’t realise could take me this far.

“I think to look at myself now and think ‘you’ve done it.’ Like it’s cool. I think obviously in the borders, rugby is a massive sport and get a professional contract out of it through the women’s pathway is amazing.”

At the place, or pitch, where it all began for a young Chloe, she explained why she has such an emotional connection to Jed’s hallowed turf, adding: “I think it’s a testament to the borders itself and Jed Forest is a really nostalgic place for me.

“It’s where it started when I was eight years old. I took up mini rugby on this pitch, doing a lot of tournaments and on the back pitches as well. And it just kind of takes me back to where I found my love for rugby. You know, if it wasn’t for here, I probably wouldn’t have played rugby, which is a big thing because now it’s obviously my life.”

You can read this interview in full in our matchday programme for the Vodafone Scotland WXV Series, available at Hive Stadium on match days or direct through PPL Group here.