Mhairi is hoping toset Sale to success

Scrum half Mhairi, from Selkirk, has recently made some big career decisions.

Living near Manchester and (normally) working full time as a vet, she has joined Sale Sharks Ladies – and also taken the tough option to withdraw herself from selection from Scotland’s international women’s team.

With 18 caps, and also international sevens experience to her name, she felt her life was becoming a bit too congested to give 100 per cent to the national squad.

“It was such an honour to play for my country but it got to the point where I couldn’t give it everything, and I didn’t want to be part of it if I couldn’t do that,” said Mhairi (26). “It was a very tough decision, just before the Six Nations.”

She admitted she really missed the action – and her teammates – when the contest started. But, while she would not say a definite ‘no’ to returning, she was out of commission for the time being, to find more of a balance between work and sport.

Sale Sharks Ladies ascended to the Tyrrells Premier 15s for 2020-21 and will be playing in the top flight for at least the next three campaigns – so Mhairi is delighted to be involved. “I am sure it’s going to be a high-eroformance set-up,” she said.

During lockdown, Mhairi admitted it was hard sometimes to keep motivated, with uncertainty about when things will start happening again and still no “end goal” in sight.

She has a basic gym in her garage and does spin biking and running sessions.

“I’m quite competitive, so it’s a good opportunity to get better at the little things that you don’t have time to do,” she said.

Mhairi has also been doing cross-fit to keep in shape and thinking about triathlons and even a ‘half-iron man’ event, as she enjoys doing other sports to get a bit of a break from rugby.