Borderers Lana Skeldon and Chloe Rollie selected for Scotland women’s rugby autumn test squad
Borderers Lana Skeldon and Chloe Rollie have been selected for the Scotland women’s rugby squad set to play three autumn tests at Edinburgh’s Hive Stadium in September.
Interim head coach Dave Butcher, appointed following predecessor Sione Fukofuka’s departure earlier this week, has named a training squad of 32, with Hawick’s Skeldon among 18 forwards and Jedburgh’s Rollie one of 14 backs.
Hawick’s Lisa Thomson misses out on selection due to injury but might be available for two follow-up tests in Australia in October also forming part of the new WXV Global Series.
Bristol Bears hooker Skeldon, 32, and Edinburgh full-back Rollie, 31, are the most-capped players in Butcher’s squad, bringing the best part of two centuries’ worth of international appearances with them, the former being on 87 caps and the latter only one behind her.
The Scots’ training camp ahead of September’s fixtures, all on Saturdays, will convene at the Oriam in Edinburgh next Monday ahead of playing Canada on the 12th, New Zealand on the 19th and Australia on the 26th, with kick-offs at 4.10pm, 5.10pm and 4.10pm respectively.
Scotland then go on to play Australia away twice the month after, in Sydney on Saturday, October 17, and Canberra on Friday, October 23, with kick-offs at 3am and 9.30am our time.
Skeldon’s fellow forwards are returning captain Rachel Malcolm, Leah Bartlett, Holland Bogan, Sarah Bonar, Hollie Cunningham, Elliann Clarke, Eva Donaldson, Evie Gallagher, Elis Martin, Rachel McLachlan, Molly Poolman, Imogen Spence, Alex Stewart, Aicha Sutcliffe, Demi Swann, Emma Wassell and Anne Young.
Joining Rollie at the back are Ceitidh Ainsworth, Leia Brebner-Holden, Katie Buchanan, Shona Campbell, Rhea Clarke, Nicole Flynn, Rhona Lloyd, Helen Nelson, Rachel Philipps, Hannah Ramsay, Lucia Scott, Meryl Smith and Evie Wills.
Former Scottish age-grade international Butcher, 49, will be assisted by Jedburgh’s Chris Laidlaw and ex-Doncaster Knights player Tom Luke.
Laidlaw, 36 today, initially joins on secondment from London’s Harlequins but will return later as a permanent appointment and Luke is helping out this autumn only.
The Borderer, previously head coach of Glasgow Warriors’ women’s team and an assistant with the women’s national team for 2023’s Six Nations, is glad to be back in his homeland, saying: “I am delighted to be returning to Scotland and taking up this role within the national women’s team.
“I am hugely passionate about this team and can see massive potential across the playing group and pathway.
“I am looking forward to working with all the players and staff as we continue to drive the women’s game forward in Scotland at international level.
“I can’t wait to get started as we approach an exciting run of games against some of the world’s best and meet the challenges head on over the coming months.”