Putting together missing pieces of 2020 Six Nations

Hawick pair Lana Skeldon and Lisa Thomson, with Jedburgh’s Chloe Rollie, are once again in the ladies’ squad, keeping up a very a strong Borders presence in the team over recent seasons.

Fresh uncertainty has possibly been thrown at the fixture list, however, by the latest COVID concerns.

A return to full-contact training could be dependent on an advance, possibly after early October, to Stages 5 and 6 for the Return to Rugby Roadmap.

Scottish Rugby has stated it will only progress to Stage 5 and 6 if it is safe to do so and with approval from the Scottish Government.

Nevertheless, dates have been announced for the remaining Six Nations fixtures.

The postponed round four matches are set for Sunday, October 25, with round five games on November 1.

The Championship is due to conclude with the outstanding round three match between Italy and Scotland on December 6.

The Scottish ladies had gone down slenderly 18-14 away to Ireland in early February and then lost 53-0 to England in a hastily rescheduled, behind-closed-doors game at BT Murrayfield, just as COVID concerns were about to take their toll on sport in the UK and overseas. The visit to Italy, due two weeks after the England game, was postponed.

The new diary reads:

Week four, October 25 – Scotland v France, 2.05pm kick-off at Scotstoun. Week five, November 1 – Wales v Scotland, 4.15pm kick-off, venue tbc. Week three, December 6 – Italy v Scotland, kick-off 6pm GMT in Parma.

Ben Morel, Six Nations CEO, said: “Despite the ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19, we have been, at all times, absolutely determined to conclude this year’s Six Nations Women’s Championship. While we will remain vigilant in the current, fast- changing environment, we are nonetheless delighted to announce the schedule.

“We are really looking to some exciting rugby and fantastic matches in the weeks’ ahead. I want to thank all involved in making this possible from the players, unions staff to our commercial partners.”