Team named for U21 Six Nations finale

Aisla Merryweather makes her first start of the campaign, with Isobel Twigger and Catriona Moody returning to the starting pack.

Ceitidh Ainsworth also makes a first start after two appearances from the bench, and there is an all-change centre partnership featuring Lucy MacRae and Nicole Flynn, with Freya MacColl coming back into the full-back position she held in round one.

An unchanged front row sees Poppy Fletcher, Megan Hyland, who is again captain, and Imogen Spence continue at loosehead prop, hooker and tighthead prop respectively.

Merryweather is joined in the second row by Gemma Thomson. Twigger at openside flanker and Moody at number 8, who also vice-captains the side, are joined in the back row by blindside flanker Scarlet Down.

Ainsworth at scrum-half is joined by Poppy Mellanby to make up the half-backs.

MacRae at inside centre is named as a vice-captain, and Flynn at outside centre completes the midfield.

Lisa Brown moves from outside centre to left wing, with Scarlett Haddow on the right, and MacColl in the 15 jersey completes the starting team.

Aila Ronald, Talei Tawake and Faye Sutherland are the front row replacements, with Charlotte Russell and Merryn Gunderson also primed to join the back from the bench.

Fresh from winning her first two senior caps in the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations so far, Rianna Darroch is listed among the backs replacements, alongside Hannah Ramsay and Emily Love.

Dalgliesh said: “We can’t hide from the score line last week. France were relentless on the day and it probably does reflect the chasm between the programmes at this level at the moment. As a group we have taken some harsh lessons from that and we don’t have any choice but to improve and move forward.

“Having Italy at home this week has given us the chance to refocus very quickly, and have the opportunity to put in a performance that more accurately reflects the ability we have in this group. Sunday will be a big physical test for us. We expect the Italians to build on their first 2 games and bring high-intensity attacking rugby.

“We have a point to prove after last week and the players are excited about going out and doing just that in front of our home support at the Hive.”

Scotland U21 team to play Italy U21 in the Women’s Six Nations U21 Series at Hive Stadium on Sunday (kick off 1pm) – live on YouTube

15. Freya MacColl (Loughborough Lightning/Loughborough University)
14. Scarlett Haddow (Edinburgh Rugby/Stirling County)
13. Nicole Flynn (Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh)
12. Lucy MacRae – Vice-captain (Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh)
11. Lisa Brown (Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh)

10. Poppy Mellanby (Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh)
9. Ceitidh Ainsworth (Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County)

1. Poppy Fletcher (Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh)
2. Megan Hyland – Captain (Glasgow Warriors/Heriots Rugby Club)
3. Imogen Spence (Glasgow Warriors/University of Edinburgh)
4. Aisla Merryweather (Glasgow Warriors/Surrey University)
5. Gemma Thomson (Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County)
6.  Scarlet Down (Brunel University/Trailfinders Women)
7. Isobel Twigger (Brunel University)
8. Catriona Moody (Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh)

Replacements

16. Aila Ronald (Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh)
17. Talei Tawake (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC)
18. Faye Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby/Heriots Rugby Club)
19. Charlotte Russell (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC)
20. Merryn Gunderson (Edinburgh Rugby)
21. Rianna Darroch – Glasgow Warriors/Hillhead Jordanhill
22. Hannah Ramsay – Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC
23. Emily Love (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC)