Leia Brebner-Holden

Leia Brebner-Holden's journey began at nine years old with the Al Ain Amblers Rugby Club in the United Arab Emirates, where she also represented the UAE Sand Cats at U15 and U18 levels.

Upon returning to the UK, Leia’s skill on the field earned her rugby scholarships to Hartpury College AASE and Hartpury University, and she later went on to play a pivotal role in Cheltenham Tigers Women’s consecutive victories in the Women’s National Championship.

In 2024, she joined Gloucester-Hartpury in Premiership Women’s Rugby, further honing her skills at the elite level. That that year she was named as a Transitional Player for the Celtic Challenge, playing for Edinburgh Rugby.

Qualifying for Scotland through her mother, Lorna Brebner-Holden, who was born in Brora, Scotland, Leia’s international career gained momentum in 2024. Following the cross-border competition, Leia was selected for Scotland Women’s Guinness Six Nations training squad, before spending the summer with Scotland Women U20 playing in the Six Nations Summer Series.

In July that year, Leia was named in the Scotland Women WXV 2 squad, making her debut against Wales in the Vodafone Series at Hive Stadium, where Scotland won 40-14, becoming Scotland Women cap 239.

Ahead of the 2024/25 season the scrum-half signed for PWR side Loughborough Lightning joining fellow Scots, Rachel Malcolm, Helen Nelson, Anne Young, Elis Martin, Emma Wassell and Christine Belisle.

Beyond rugby, she works as a grounds maintenance operative.