Scottish Rugby confirms supported female players for 2025/26 season

The financial support provided enables players to train, play, and recover within their local playing environments – whether that be the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) competition in England, the Elite leagues in France, or through the Centralised programme and Celtic Challenge in Scotland.

For the 2025/26 season, Scottish Rugby has increased the number of supported players from 32 to 35, following the conclusion of the 2024/25 contracting cycle on 31 October 2025 and reflecting the continued investment in the women’s game. Contracts for the 2025/26 season are one year in length.
This is a transitional year and marks the start of the new Rugby World Cup 2029 performance cycle.

This season 17 players will continue their development within the PWR and French Elite league structures.

Within Scotland 11 players are fully supported, with seven players on development contracts.

The 18 supported players based in Scotland, alongside 14 emerging talent players, will be drafted into Celtic Challenge squads, which will be announced shortly.

Scottish Rugby’s Managing Director of Women’s Rugby, Gemma Fay said: “Securing the financial commitment to expand the number of supported players is a clear sign of Scottish Rugby’s belief in the potential of this group and the future of the game, particularly as we begin a new Rugby World Cup cycle.

“We’re focused on creating the right environments locally in Scotland, where players can train, play, and recover at a high level. The introduction of additional high-performance expertise at Oriam will help us strengthen our pathways and ensure that our programme continues to evolve.”

Performance Director David Nucifora said: “It’s important that we make a prompt and purposeful start to the new Rugby World Cup programme. Performance is all about decision-making, and the process to identify players for support reflects that. These decisions are made carefully and with the future in mind.

“The door remains open for Scotland selection; contracts are just one part of the picture. These one-year contracts allow us to give younger players the opportunity to grow, as well as, flexibility as the women’s game evolves.

“The Celtic Challenge will be a key part of that, and we’re now focused on putting the right people and structures in place to ensure both teams can perform and develop successfully.”

Players selected for Scotland Women are remunerated separately through the National Team Agreement. This is in addition to any Scottish Rugby support they may receive. This means players, regardless of whether they are supported by Scottish Rugby or not, are paid for the time in camp preparing for Test matches, and match fees if selected to play.

Players supported outwith Scotland
Chloe Rollie (Toulon)
Emma Wassell (Ealing Trailfinders)
Emma Orr (Bristol Bears)
Lisa Thomson (Ealing Trailfinders)
Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning)
Sarah Bonar (Harlequins)
Rachel Malcolm (Ealing Trailfinders)
Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier)
Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears)
Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears)
Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears)
Rhona Lloyd (Sale Sharks)
Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears)
Francesca McGhie (Ealing Trailfinders)
Leia Brebner-Holden (Loughborough Lightning)
Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning)
Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning)

Players supported in Scotland
Alex Stewart (University of Edinburgh)
Adelle Ferrie (Corstorphine Cougars)
Molly Poolman (Watsonians)
Aila Ronald (University of Edinburgh)
Hannah Ramsay (Watsonians)
Hannah Walker (University of Edinburgh)
Emily Norval (Stirling County)
Holland Bogan (Stirling County)
Merryn Gunderson (Corstorphine Cougars)
Emily Coubrough (University of Edinburgh)
Nicole Flynn (University of Edinburgh )

Players on Development support
Poppy Mellanby (University of Edinburgh)
Poppy Fletcher (University of Edinburgh)
Megan Hyland (Heriot’s Rugby)
Ceitidh Ainsworth (Stirling County)
Imogen Spence (University of Edinburgh)
Talei Tawake (Watsonians)
Sky Phimister (Stirling County)