Scotland team named for Spain test

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Rhona Lloyd during a Scotland Women's open training session at the Oriam, on September 17, 2022, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)

Easson has opted for consistency in his selection, with 13 of the starting line-up having played in Scotland’s last match of the TikTok Women’s Six Nations tournament against Ireland, when they sealed an emphatic 36-10 victory in front of a record home crowd at Hive Stadium, securing their first consecutive wins in the competition since 2006. 

Sarah Bonar returns to the fold to start in the second row, having missed the entirety of this year’s TikTok Women’s Six Nations competition due to injury.

Rhona Lloyd will make her comeback to the Scotland squad this weekend, having last played against New Zealand in the 2021 Rugby World Cup, with fellow GB 7s teammate Lisa Thomson also returning to international duties after being named among the replacements. 

Easson said: “It’s great to have the Spain fixture as when you go into any tournament it’s important you have an opportunity to pit yourself against different opposition with different playing styles.  

“We know that when we go to Cape Town for WXV, we will be playing against South Africa and USA in the first two weeks who are both physical sides, but we are also playing against Japan who play more open-style, faster rugby and Spain fall into some of those categories.

“In terms of the selection, we’ve looked at a few permutations and some players who are coming back from injury who need game time so there is a really good mix of experience and youth in the squad for this weekend.”

In the front-row, Lana Skeldon will pack down alongside props Leah Bartlett and Christine Belisle, while locks Louise McMillan and Sarah Bonar complete the tight five. 

Captain Rachel Malcolm, Rachel McLachlan and Evie Gallagher will once again form the back row. 

Mairi McDonald and vice-captain Helen Nelson will pull the strings at scrum-half and stand-of respectively. 

Emma Orr and Meryl Smith retain their midfield partnership from the TikTok Women’s Six Nations, with Francesca McGhie and Lloyd lining up on the wings and Chloe Rollie completing the back three at full-back.

Following Saturday’s match against Spain, Scotland will travel to Cape Town on Thursday (5 October) as they kick-start their WXV 2 campaign on Friday 13 October at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch, with the side facing hosts South Africa (kick-off 4.30pm).

The tournament then heads to Cape Town with the Athlone Stadium hosting the second and third rounds of WXV 2, with Scotland going head-to-head against USA on Friday 20 October (kick-off 2pm) before concluding their campaign against Japan on Friday 27 October (kick-off 2pm).

Match tickets remain on sale, with great family-friendly prices starting at £16.50 (adults), £11.50 (students) £6.50 (U18s) and U12s only £1.50 with a paying adult (T&Cs apply). All prices are inclusive of booking fees. Don’t waste any time and support your Scotland team in their last home game of 2023, click HERE for tickets.

The match will also be streamed live on the Scottish Rugby website, YouTube and Facebook channels. 

Scotland team to face Spain at Hive Stadium, Edinburgh (kick-off 5.45pm) – lives on the Scottish Rugby website

 15. Chloe Rollie (Loughborough Lightning) – 57 caps

14. Rhona Lloyd (GB 7s / Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais) – 42 caps
13. Emma Orr (Heriot’s/Biggar) – 10 caps
12. Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears) – 9 caps
11. Francesca McGhie (Watsonians) – 5 caps

10. Helen Nelson VICE-CAPTAIN (Loughborough Lightning) – 51 caps
9. Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs) – 14 caps

1. Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers) – 26 caps
2. Lana Skeldon (Worcester Warriors) – 62 caps
3. Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning) – 26 caps
4. Louise McMillan (Saracens) – 44 caps
5. Sarah Bonar (Harlequins) – 34 caps
6. Rachel Malcolm CAPTAIN (Loughborough Lightning) – 38 caps
7. Rachel McLachlan (Sale Sharks) – 36 caps
8. Evie Gallagher (Worcester Warriors) – 18 caps

Replacements

16. Elis Martin (Leicester Tigers) – 1 cap
17. Anne Young (Sale Sharks) – 6 caps
18. Lisa Cockburn (Worcester Warriors) – 24 caps
19. Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers) – 5 caps
20. Emma Wassell (Loughborough Lightning) – 60 caps
21. Caity Mattinson (Worcester Warriors) – 14 caps
22. Lisa Thomson (GB 7s) – 51 caps
23. Liz Musgrove – (Ealing Trailfinders) – 15 caps