Scotland Women XV selected for Wales friendly

Scotland Women Head Coach Shade Munro has named his squad to face a Wales Women XV at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park (Saturday 29 October, kick-off 12noon). The non-capped match will give the Scots an opportunity to benchmark their progress as they prepare to play Spain in a two-legged Women’s Rugby World Cup qualifier next month.As well as more game time for the squad, the Wales match will give new players valuable experience at international level.Sisters Louise and Siobhan McMillan and Murrayfield Wanderers’ Lucy Park enter the fray having been involved in Scotland Women U20 last season.Two talented athletes Sarah Bonar and Rachel Malcolm are called up to the squad and join their Lichfield club mate Jenny Maxwell, who has eight international caps to her name.Nine BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy players also earn selection including the experienced back-row Karen Dunbar, lock Emma Wassell and captain Lisa Martin.Lisa Thomson and Helen Nelson, also in the BT Sport Academy, retain a place in the squad after making their debuts in the 2016 Women’s Six Nations.Murrayfield Wanderers centre Laura Steven, who has 36 Scotland Women caps, returns following a lengthy break due to injury. Bletchley Ladies centre Caroline Collie is also in the squad following caps in 2011 and 2012.While this is a friendly, I’m expecting it to be a hard-fought encounter as the players stake a claim for a place in the squad for our Women’s Rugby World Cup qualifiers against Spain next month. – Shade MunroHe continued: “Wales will be our second competitive warm-up game, following our 24-5 win over Lichfield last month. It will provide a good benchmark on progress made and gives us an opportunity to look at new players and different combinations.I know the players are looking forward to the challenge in Cardiff and putting in a strong performance for the jersey, and each other, as we focus on securing a place at the World Cup.” Scotland Women XV to play Wales Women XV at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday 29 September (kick-off 12noon) Forwards Tracey Balmer (Worcester) – 35 capsSarah Bonar (Lichfield) – uncappedKaren Dunbar* (RHC Cougars) – 14 capsJemma Forsyth (Hillhead/Jordanhill) – 15 capsHeather Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill) – 82 capsRachel Malcolm (Lichfield) – unacppedAnna Stodter (Saracens) – 8 capsLouise McMillan* (Hillhead/Jordanhill) – uncappedSiobhan McMillan (Cartha Queens Park) – uncappedLucy Park* (Murrayfield Wanderers) – uncappedLana Skeldon (Hillh ead Jordanhill) – 15 capsFiona Sim (Aylesford Bulls) – 7 capsKatie Dougan (Royal High Cougars) – 2 capsEmma Wassell* (Murrayfield Wanderers) – 16 capsLyndsay O’Donnell (Worcester) – 10 caps Backs Caroline Collie (Bletchley Ladies) – 7 capsMegan Gaffney (Edinburgh University) – 18 capsMairi MacDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill) – uncappedRhona Lloyd (Edinburgh University) – 5 capsLaura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers) – 36 capsLisa Martin* (Murrayfield Wanderers) – 30 capsJenny Maxwell (Lichfield) – 8 capsHelen Nelson* (Murrayfield Wanderers) – 2 capsChloe Rollie* (Murrayfield Wanderers) – 10 capsEilidh Sinclair* (Murrayfield Wanderers) – 11 capsLisa Thomson* (Edinburgh University) – 5 caps *BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy Player