Women's rugby: Scotland have named their squad for the Six Nations
Wednesday 21 January 2015 10:10, UK
Scotland Women have included a mixture of youth and experience in their squad for the forthcoming Six Nations Championship.
Worcester prop Tracy Balmer captains the squad again, lining up in the front row alongside 71-times capped Heather Lockhart while back row Rachael Cook, who hails from Larbert Academy and was part of the Scotland Women under-20 side who defeated Finland two years ago, will be looking to add to her five caps won last season.
In the backs, stand-off Lisa Martin, who secured the first of her 19 caps as replacement for Scotland's most capped player, Donna Kennedy, during the latter's final match at the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup, is joined by Selkirk-born winger Mhairi Grieve, who made her international debut in the away warm-up match against Italy in autumn 2014.
Looking to make their international debuts this season will be outside centre Nuala Deans (Wasps), flanker Jude Telford (Murrayfield Wanderers) and fullback Chloe Rollie (Melrose), the latter who has progressed through schools and youth teams.
Head coach Jules Maxton said: "We've named a squad that's an exciting mix of experience and youth.
"The first few months of our season have seen us play Italy away – a valuable experience – stage a number of camps and take part in a training game with the Nomads.
"All our preparations have gone well and the build-up to the 6 Nations concludes with a camp at the end of this month, before our opening game, away against France.”
Scotland Women begin their campaign on Saturday, February 7 away to France before two home games against Wales (February 14) and Italy (March 1). England are up next in Darlington ((March 13) before they round off the campaign with a home game against Ireland on Sunday, March 22.
Squad: Forwards: Karen Dunbar (RHC Cougars), Deborah McCormack (Richmond), Rachael Cook (Watsonians),
Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill),Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), Emma Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lisa Robertson (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lana Skeldon (Melrose), Christianne Fahey (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lyndsay O'Donnell (Worcester), Fiona Sim (Saracens), Tracy Balmer (Worcester), Jade Konkel (Hillhead Jordanhill), Lindsey Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill), Bridget Millar-Mills (Waterloo), Jude Telford (Murrayfield Wanderers).
Backs: Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers), Gillian Inglis (Melrose), Nuala Deans (Wasps), Emma McBride (Hillhead Jordanhill), Claire Bain (RHC Cougars), Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers), Chloe Rollie (Melrose), Eilidh Sinclair (Murrayfield Wanderers), Jenny Maxwell (Lichfield), Abi Evans (Northumbria University), Mhairi Grieve (RHC Cougars),
Hannah Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill)
