News & Features International Scotland Women

Sione Fukofuka names Scotland Women team for Six Nations opener

9 Apr 2026

Sione Fukofuka has named his maiden Scotland Women XV ahead of this weekend’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations opener against Wales at the Principality Stadium, with the Head Coach handing a debut to Glasgow Warriors back-row player Emily Coubrough and a 50th cap to prop Leah Bartlett.

Emily Coubrough (L) and Rachel Malcolm during a Scotland Women's Rugby training session at the Oriam.

Shona Campbell returns for her first cap since 2022, starting on the left wing. Rhona Lloyd plays on the right, with Chloe Rollie at full-back to make up the back three.

Meryl Smith is also set to mark her return for Scotland for the first time since a knee injury sustained in 2024, lining up at inside centre alongside outside centre Emma Orr, who scored our final try the last time these sides met in the 2025 Rugby World Cup.

Starting at scrum-half will be another try-scorer from the win against Wales, Leia Brebner-Holden, with Helen Nelson outside her at stand-off.

Loosehead prop Barlett is joined in the front row by Lana Skeldon at hooker and Elliann Clarke at tighthead.

Hollie Cunningham returns to the second row having missed out on World Cup selection due to injury, and is partnered by Emma Wassell.

Captain Rachel Malcolm continues to lead from blindside flanker and is paired with Alex Stewart on the openside, and debutant Coubrough at number eight completes the starting team.

On the bench, there are three more potential debutants in the form of prop Demi Swann, second row Holland Bogan and scrum-half Rianna Darroch.

Swann is joined by Elis Martin and Molly Poolman as the front row replacements, and Bogan and Eva Donaldson are the remaining forwards on the bench.

Darroch is accompanied by Evie Wills and Lucia Scott as the replacement backs.

Scotland Women team to face Wales in the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations at Principality Stadium on Saturday 11 April kick-off 4.40pm – live on BBC Two (caps in brackets).

15. Chloe Rollie – Toulon Provence Méditerranée (81)
14. Rhona Lloyd – Sale Sharks (62)
13. Emma Orr – Bristol Bears (34)
12. Meryl Smith – Bristol Bears (22)
11. Shona Campbell – Sale Sharks (9)

10. Helen Nelson – Loughborough Lightning (75) – Vice-captain
9. Leia Brebner-Holden – Loughborough Lightning (15)

1. Leah Bartlett – Sale Sharks (49)
2. Lana Skeldon – Bristol Bears (84)
3. Elliann Clarke – Bristol Bears (24)
4. Emma Wassell – Trailfinders Women (72)
5. Hollie Cunningham – Bristol Bears (2)
6. Rachel Malcolm – Trailfinders Women (61) – Captain
7. Alex Stewart – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (17)
8. Emily Coubrough – Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh (uncapped)

Replacements

16. Elis Martin – Loughborough Lightning (26)
17. Demi Swann – Exeter Chiefs (uncapped)
18. Molly Poolman – Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC (7)
19. Holland Bogan – Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County (uncapped)
20. Eva Donaldson – Sale Sharks (21)
21. Rianna Darroch – Glasgow Warriors/Hillhead Jordanhill (uncapped)
22. Evie Wills – Sale Sharks (8)
23. Lucia Scott – Loughborough Lightning (7)