# Scotland women's national rugby union team

The Scotland women's national rugby union team represents Scotland in women's international rugby union and is governed by the Scottish Rugby Union. The team competes in the annual Women's Six National Championship and has competed in five of the Women's Rugby World Cups since their hosted debut in 1994. The Nation plays an important role in the rugby world stage.

## History

Scotland Women's first official test match was played against Ireland at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh on 14 February 1993, ending in a 10 - 0 win to the hosts. Leading from the front, first Scotland captain Sandra Colamartino was the scorer of both tries.
In April of the following year, Scotland stepped in as alternate host of the 1994 Women's Rugby World Cup, finishing fifth, the team's best appearance to date. Since then, the Women's team have competed in the 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2021 iterations of the tournament.
The early streak of success peaked on 21 March 1998, as a 8–5 win over England in their final match of the Home Nations Championship marked the achievement of a Grand Slam for Scotland.
The Scottish Women's Rugby Union (SWRU) was the national governing body for women's rugby union in Scotland. It was responsible for the governance of women's rugby union within Scotland. Its role was all-encompassing. It went from youth recruitment, through administering all senior based (aged 16+) competition, through to the performance and management of the Scotland women's national rugby union team.
At its AGM in June 2009, the SWRU voted unanimously in favour of amalgamating the Scottish Rugby Union and the SWRU to form an integrated national governing body rugby in Scotland.

## Thistle and the anthem

The thistle is the national flower, and also the symbol of the Scotland national rugby union team. According to legend the "guardian thistle" has played its part in the defence of Scotland against a night attack by Norwegian Vikings, one of whom let out a yell of pain when he stepped barefoot on a thistle, alerting the Scottish defenders. The Latin Nemo me impune lacessit ("No-one provokes me with impunity!" in English) is the motto of Scotland's premier chivalric order, the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle.
"Flower of Scotland" has been used since 1990 as Scotland's unofficial national anthem. It was written by Roy Williamson of The Corries in 1967, and adopted by the SRU to replace "God Save the Queen".

## Strip

Scotland have traditionally worn navy blue jerseys, white shorts and blue socks. On the occasion that Scotland is the home side and the opposing team normally wears dark colours, Scotland will use its change strip. Traditionally this is a white jersey with navy blue shorts and socks. During a sponsorship deal, purple was introduced to the traditional blue jersey. This was a significant departure from the traditional colours of blue and white, although purple is inspired from the thistle flower.

## Results summary
### Overall

(Full internationals only) Correct as of 13 October 2023

### World Cup

Rugby World Cup :
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA |
| 1991 | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate |
| 1994 | 5th place | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 72 | 42 |
| 1998 | 6th place | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 89 | 141 |
| 2002 | 6th place | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 41 | 53 |
| 2006 | 6th place | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 67 | 72 |
| 2010 | 8th place | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 57 | 132 |
| 2014 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2017 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2021 | Pool stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 89 |
| 2025 | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| 2029 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2033 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Total | 5th Place | 27 | 11 | 0 | 16 | 353 | 529 |
| Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place Home venue ||||||||

## Players
### Current squad

Scotland announced their 30-player squad on 27 August 2024 for the WXV 2 competition.
$^1$ On 10 September 2024, Emma Wassell was replaced by Louise McMillan, after being diagnosed with a tumour in her chest.
Caps as of 27 September 2024.
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
| Leah Bartlett | Prop | (1998-08-28)28 August 1998 (aged 26) | 36 | Leicester Tigers |
| Christine Belisle | Prop | (1993-11-04)4 November 1993 (aged 30) | 36 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Sarah Bonar | Lock | (1994-02-09)9 February 1994 (aged 30) | 38 | Harlequins |
| Elliann Clarke | Prop | (2001-02-16)16 February 2001 (aged 23) | 12 | Bristol Bears |
| Lisa Cockburn | Prop | (1992-12-06)6 December 1992 (aged 31) | 30 | Gloucester-Hartpury |
| Eva Donaldson | Second row | (2001-07-10)10 July 2001 (aged 23) | 12 | Leicester Tigers |
| Evie Gallagher | Number 8 | (2000-08-22)22 August 2000 (aged 24) | 28 | Bristol Bears |
| Jade Konkel | Number 8 | (1993-12-09)9 December 1993 (aged 30) | 63 | Harlequins |
| Rachel Malcolm | Back row | (1991-05-23)23 May 1991 (aged 33) | 48 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Elis Martin | Hooker | (1999-05-23)23 May 1999 (aged 25) | 11 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Fiona McIntosh | Second row | (1999-10-25)25 October 1999 (aged 24) | 3 | Saracens |
| Rachel McLachlan | Back row | (1999-02-26)26 February 1999 (aged 25) | 43 | Montpellier HR |
| Lana Skeldon | Hooker | (1993-10-18)18 October 1993 (aged 30) | 70 | Bristol Bears |
| Aila Ronald | Hooker | (2004-04-18)18 April 2004 (aged 20) | 0 | University of Edinburgh |
| Alex Stewart | Back row | (2004-05-28)28 May 2004 (aged 20) | 6 | Corstorphine Cougars |
| Emma Wassell$^1$ | Second row | (1994-12-28)28 December 1994 (aged 29) | 67 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Louise McMillan$^1$ | Second row | (1997-07-27)27 July 1997 (aged 27) | 54 | Saracens |
| Anne Young | Prop | (2000-03-17)17 March 2000 (aged 24) | 11 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Leia Brebner-Holden | Scrum-half | (2002-05-26)26 May 2002 (aged 22) | 1 | Gloucester-Hartpury / Cheltenham Tigers |
| Coreen Grant | Wing | (1998-01-30)30 January 1998 (aged 26) | 12 | Saracens |
| Caity Mattinson | Scrum-half | (1996-05-17)17 May 1996 (aged 28) | 23 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Mairi McDonald | Scrum-half | (1997-11-25)25 November 1997 (aged 26) | 24 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Francesca McGhie | Wing | (2003-05-07)7 May 2003 (aged 21) | 13 | Leicester Tigers |
| Rhona Lloyd | Wing | (1996-10-17)17 October 1996 (aged 27) | 50 | Stade Bordelais / GB 7s |
| Helen Nelson | Fly-half | (1994-05-24)24 May 1994 (aged 30) | 61 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Emma Orr | Centre | (2003-04-06)6 April 2003 (aged 21) | 20 | Bristol Bears |
| Rachel Philipps | Centre | (2002-01-07)7 January 2002 (aged 22) | 0 | Sale Sharks |
| Lisa Thomson | Centre | (1997-09-07)7 September 1997 (aged 27) | 60 | Ealing Trailfinders / GB 7s |
| Chloe Rollie | Fullback | (1995-06-26)26 June 1995 (aged 29) | 66 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Lucia Scott | Fullback | (2004-02-03)3 February 2004 (aged 20) | 1 | Hartpury University/Gloucester-Hartpury |
| Meryl Smith | Centre | (2001-06-11)11 June 2001 (aged 23) | 18 | Bristol Bears |

### Notable internationalists

* Paula Chalmers, Scrum Half, named in World Cup Star XV
* Donna Kennedy, Number 8, most capped Scottish internationalist
* Jade Konkel, Number 8, first full-time professional Scottish internationalist

### Award winners
#### World Rugby Awards

The following Scotland players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001:
World Rugby Women's 15s Player of the Year :
| Year | Nominees | Winners |
| 2004 | Donna Kennedy | Donna Kennedy |

#### Six Nations Awards

The following Scotland players have been recognised in the Women's Six Nations Awards since 2020:
Six Nations Team of the Championship :
| Year | Forwards | Forwards | Backs | Backs | Total |
| Year | No. | Players | No. | Players | Total |
| 2022 | — | — | 10. | Helen Nelson | 1 |
| 2023 | 2. | Lana Skeldon | 15. | Chloe Rollie | 2 |
| 2024 | — | — | — | — | 0 |

## Honours

* WXV
** WXV2 Winners: 2023
* Home Nations Championship
** Winners: 1998
* European Championship
** Winners: 2001