Sisters are doing it for themselves (and Scotland)

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 07: Rhea Clarke and Elliann Clarke during a Scotland Women's World Cup squad announcement at the Old Course, on August 07, 2025, in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

As Elliann explained: “Well, it was Rhea’s graduation on the day of the squad came out so we were at a meal with all of our family when the email came through. So it was mum, dad, granny, and a couple of our aunties.

Rhea: “Yeah so it could have gone either way! It was lovely to have our granny there, that was really special.”

Sisters with attitude – the Clarkes are ready to take on the Rugby World Cup.

20-year-old Rhea, whose debut came against England in this year’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations, was perhaps less expectant than her older sister for Rugby World Cup inclusion, although she knew she had given it her all, adding: “I had tried my hardest throughout pre-season but it was more a case of ‘had it happened it would be special’ and it could have gone either way but I’m very grateful.”

22-cap big sister Elliann added:“I guess selection is never given but throughout pre-season and how I’ve been working, it was more of a probability. So it was a nervous day for everyone!

“Now we’re on this journey together, we’ve gone through the highs and lows of the rugby and in general life outside as well, I think we lean on each other quite a lot. It’s nice to have someone in camp to make it feel a bit like home.”

Rhea: “Having seen Elliann go through her fist World Cup, working her way into a starting place, it’s kind of given me a pathway where I see that everyone has a different one, and that’s ok.

Rhea made her Scotland debut earlier in 2025. Here, pictured in training in the lead-up.

Elliann: “We’ve always been pretty close, always done everything together from rugby to horse-riding when we were younger, all sports clubs.

Rhea: “I think we both got into it because of our brother.

Elliann: “Yeah, our dad played rugby and he took our brother down to Dunfermline, our local club, and then I got chucked in with him and when Rhea was old enough, she got chucked in as well!

Rhea: “It was easier if we all just went to the same place!

This family affair will continue in England over the next few weeks, with the Clarke sisters unsurprisingly aligned when asked what it means to represent Scotland in such a huge year for women’s sport: “It means the world to us. For me, I love being a part of this team, this country. To do it in England, with it basically being a home World Cup, with so many friends and family there, the trajectory that women’s rugby is on – I think it’s going to be a really good year for us,” said Elliann.

Elliann in the thick of the action against Italy in the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations

Rhea added: “Yeah, it’s so special that we can get to play just a small part of the way women’s sport is going. I’m incredibly grateful to be here and share that journey with Elliann as well. Honestly, it’s a dream come true.”

The sisters are not just doing it for themselves, they are going to a Rugby World Cup for their family (including granny!), the supporters and those tuning in from all parts.