The story began in 1962 with the formation of the Edinburgh Amazons, a university team that planted the seeds for women’s rugby in Scotland. By 1987, the competitive spirit had spread across the country, with regular matches played between the universities of St Andrews, Aberdeen, Stirling, Glasgow and Edinburgh. 

In 1990, Edinburgh Women WRFC was established as Scotland’s first domestic women’s club. Just one year later, the club broke new ground by securing permission to compete in the Scottish University League while also testing themselves in the Women’s Rugby Football Union (WRFU) Northern Division, travelling regularly to the north of England for league fixtures. 

International women’s rugby kicks-off 

Years of development at grassroots and university level ultimately led to a landmark moment for the sport. 

On Valentine’s Day 1993, Scotland hosted Ireland at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh for the first official women’s international match involving Scotland. For both teams, the game represented the culmination of years of effort building women’s rugby in their respective countries. 

Leading from the front was Scotland’s first captain, Sandra Colamartino, who scored both tries in the historic match. 

Reflecting on the progress made since that cold February afternoon in 1993, Sandra remains a passionate advocate for the game and the community it builds. 

“It means the world to see today’s girls and women enjoying their rugby at such a high level. Rugby delivers so much mentally and physically, and you build friendships that last a lifetime. On International Women’s Day, while we recognise all that has been achieved, we must keep working hard to ensure the game continues to thrive for all. As women, we must never take our eye off the ball.” 

– Sandra Colamartino, captain of the first Scotland Women’s rugby international team. 

Running out alongside Colamartino that day were players whose names have become synonymous with the grit and passion of Scottish rugby. The squad featured icons of the game like Donna Kennedy, who would go on to become one of the world’s most-capped players, and Lee Cockburn, a powerhouse of the early era. 

The 1993 debut served as the catalyst for a decade of rapid growth. Only one year later, the Scottish Women’s Rugby Union (SWRU) stepped in to host the 1994 World Cup on incredibly short notice. The foundations laid at Raeburn Place eventually paved the way for the legendary 1998 Grand Slam winning side, a team that featured several pioneers from that very first match against Ireland. 

Today, as the squad prepares to run out in front of record-breaking crowds at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, they follow the trail blazed by Colamartino and her teammates. Their legacy is felt in every tackle, every try, and every young girl picking up a rugby ball for the first time this International Women’s Day. 

Growth of the domestic rugby 

As the international team developed, the domestic game across Scotland continued to grow. Clubs began to emerge across the country helping to establish strong local foundations for the senior national team. 

Today, there are 62 Clubs with Female Youth Teams and 71 Clubs with a Female Adult Teams competing across Scotland stretching from Orkney to Biggar, Oban to Cupar. (get the stat from rugby dev/Rosy Ryan) 

At age-grade level there are now national conferences and regional leagues for U16 and U18 players, sponsored by inspiresport, alongside the National Youth Cups competitions.  

Across the senior game, clubs are involved in the Arnold Clark Premiership, Regional Leagues and the Aspiring League. Women’s teams are currently competing in the Sarah Beaney Cup, National Shield, National Plate and National Bowl, with the competitions culminating at Silver Saturday at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in May. 

Professionalising the game and leadership 

The push toward professionalisation accelerated in 2016 when Jade Konkel became Scotland’s first full-time professional female player. 

Fast forward to the 2025/26 season, and Scottish Rugby further deepened its commitment to the women’s game by enhancing its annual contracting model. This evolution has seen an increase in the number of contracted players to 35, with up to 50 athletes benefitting from access to high-performance environments. 

In addition to players, in 2017 Hollie Davidson became the first contracted female referee. 

Just one year later, Dee Bradbury – mother of Scotland international, Magnus Bradbury – made history as the first female President of a Tier 1 union.  

In 2023, Scottish Rugby collaborated with the IRFU and WRU and launched the Celtic Challenge, a cross-border competition designed to bridge the gap between club and international rugby. There are now two teams playing out of Scotland – Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby. Players including Alex Stewart, Molly Poolman, Gemma Bell, Fi McIntosh, Lucia Scott, Rachel Philipps, Hannah Ramsay and Leia Brebner-Holden have come through the Celtic Challenge competition to make their debut for Scotland since its inception. 

Now there is a Central Programme operating in Scotland, where selected players are supported with Strength and Conditioning training, rugby and skills sessions, alongside nutrition, medical and wellbeing.  

There is also now a full pathway for age-grade rugby with Scotland Women U18 participating annually in the Six Nations Festival. Scotland Women U20 programme now enters a new era, evolving from the Six Nations Summer Series; the team now expands to an U21 side and will participate in their own Six Nations tournament which run adjacent to the senior competition. 

Legacy continuing 

Today’s Scotland players stand on the shoulders of the pioneers who first pulled on the jersey more than three decades ago. 

2026 will stand as a groundbreaking year for the women’s game in Scotland, as our senior national team take centre stage at Scottish Gas Murrayfield to face the Red Roses in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations. 

This is a historic move that reflects the incredible growth of the game, with a record-breaking crowd of over 19,000 tickets already sold. As the players run out onto the national pitch, they do so carrying the legacy of every pioneer who came before them, marking a new chapter in the proud history of Scottish women’s rugby.   

Their legacy lives on in every tackle, every try, and every young girl picking up a rugby ball for the first time this International Women’s Day.

The post The Beginnings of Women’s Rugby in Scotland appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

The training group was a diverse blend of experience and emerging talent, with players drawn from the Celtic Challenge, the PWR and the French Elite leagues. 

As women’s rugby in Scotland moves into a new era, take a closer look at the pathways of those in camp, tracing the determination and grassroots hard work that paved the way from local clubs to the national stage. 

Helen Nelson 

Helen Nelson’s journey to the top of the Scottish game is a masterclass in athletic versatility. Growing up in the Highlands, her first introduction to rugby came at the age of six with Lochaber Rugby Club. A natural athlete, she balanced her early rugby with shinty in Ballachulish and a three-year stint on the Scottish Alpine Ski Team, experiences she often credits for the agility and tactical coolness she now displays in national rugby team. 

Her pathway through the Scottish system continued at Edinburgh University, where she balanced a degree in Geophysics and Meteorology with a starring role for the university side. During this period, she became a mainstay for Murrayfield Wanderers, playing a pivotal role in their historic league and cup double in 2017. That domestic success served as her springboard to the international stage where Nelson quickly established herself as play-making stand-off, famously helping Scotland to secure its first-ever away win against Ireland in 2018. 

As one of the eight inaugural players to be awarded a professional contract by Scottish Rugby in 2018, Helen has since gained elite experience in France with Montpellier before moving to Loughborough Lightning in the PWR. 

Now a veteran of 75 caps and only the second Scottish woman to surpass 200 points (currently sitting on 244). 

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – APRIL 13: Scotland’s Helen Nelson in action during a Guinness Women’s Six Nations match between Scotland and Italy at The Hive Stadium, on April 13, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Emma Orr 

Emma Orr’s rugby story began in Primary 4 at Walston Primary School, but it was at Biggar RFC where her potential truly ignited. Within months of joining their U15 side, she captained the team to a Youth Cup victory at Murrayfield in 2017. 

Her rise was meteoric; after transitioning through the Scotland U18 Sevens and making her senior Sevens debut in Lisbon, she was fast-tracked into the Test arena. 

Making her senior debut at just 18 years of age against Wales in 2022, Orr has since become a consistent presence for Scotland. Despite being only 22 years old, she has already amassed 34 caps, featuring at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the Commonwealth Games, and two WXV2 campaigns. 

Her attacking threat was on full display during the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England, where she crossed the whitewash against both Wales and Fiji, bringing her international tally to 10 tries. 

Domestically, Orr honed her craft with Biggar and Heriot’s Blues before representing the Thistles and Edinburgh Rugby in the Celtic Challenge before she signed for Bristol Bears in the PWR for the 2024/25 season.  

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – APRIL 26: Scotland’s Emma Orr in action during a Guinness Women’s Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at The Hive Stadium, on April 26, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Alex Stewart 

Alex Stewart’s ascent through the ranks is a clear example of how the Scottish pathway structures support local talent. 

Her journey began at school in a partnership with Lismore RFC, where she quickly entered the Aspiring Performance Programme (APP) to sharpen her technical skills. By 2022, her leadership qualities were already on display as she captained Edinburgh Harlequins U18 to a National Youth Cup Final at Murrayfield. 

The following years saw Alex move through every tier of the developing pathway. She represented Scotland at the first-ever U18 Six Nations Festival and in the Rugby Europe Sevens in Prague, before gaining senior experience with Corstorphine Cougars in the Sarah Beaney Cup. 

In 2023, a tour with the Scotland Futures (now known as the U21 programme) in Italy provided the final bridge to the elite game. 

Her breakthrough came in 2024 when she was named vice-captain for Edinburgh Rugby in their inaugural Celtic Challenge season, where her consistently physical performances earned her a senior Scotland call-up. 

Alex made an immediate impact on the international stage, earning her first cap in Scotland’s historic away victory over Wales in 2024. Now with 17 caps and an international try against Japan to her name, Stewart’s move from youth rugby to a regular face in the national squad highlights one of the many pathways to international success. 

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – MARCH 30: Scotland’s Alex Stewart takes a selfie with young fans during a Guinness Women’s Six Nations match between Scotland and France at Hive Stadium, on March 30, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

A Landmark Moment at Scottish Gas Murrayfield 

By breaking the attendance record for a stand-alone women’s sporting event in Scotland, the upcoming match against the Red Roses serves as a reflection of the sport’s continual growth and the next generation dreaming of pulling on the famed shirt.  

Be a part of history. Secure your tickets here. 

The post Making Moves: From Club to Camp appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

New Head Coach Sione Fukofuka has overseen his first weeks in the role, using the camp as an opportunity to begin shaping the direction of the squad and build relationships across the playing and coaching group.

On getting settled into the role

“It’s been great. I’ve had just under three weeks of a lot of information, a lot of new faces, but to be honest I’m loving it. I knew what I was coming to weather-wise. The resources here, getting to know the players and the staff has been fantastic.

“Our first training camp was great. We ended up bringing in 61 players. We called it our base camp, this is where we start from and where we build from and go forward. It’s given myself and Ioan (Cunningham) the opportunity to learn about the playing group, understand where we are right now, and gives us some really good insight about where we want to take this team. It’s really exciting – there are some really young players here, amongst some experienced ones, and of course of the back of a World Cup, there’s a lot of energy and enthusiasm to go forward.”

Head Coach Sione Fukofaka on new Senior Assistance Coach Ioan Cunningham

“I’ve obviously never worked with him before but coached against him. Bringing him in with his level of experience having been a head coach himself, has been fantastic in terms of support but also the detail technically and tactically that he is able to share with the players, you can just see that learning and development coming through the players. I’m grateful for the opportunity to working with him and I’m excited to keep building that relationship.”

Looking ahead, Fukofuka outlined the key priorities

“Obviously we’ll be watching Celtic Challenge, BUCS, PWR and the French leagues to keep an eye on our players. We’ll take all the information we have taken from base camp and monitor performances over the next six to eight weeks before we assemble again. Our intention is to select for the Six Nations based on form, we want to pick the best players who can play for Scotland.”

Attention now turns to the domestic season, where players will look to build on the work done in camp and stake their claim for selection ahead of the Six Nations.

From Rachel Malcolm

Captain Rachel Malcolm echoed the sense of optimism within the squad, highlighting the positive impact of returning to camp following a Rugby World Cup cycle.

“It’s been really exciting to come back into Scotland camp, I think we probably all needed a wee bit of a break after a long four year cycle, but to come back in and have such a huge group of players with so much potential has been super exciting. To have a new management team leading us with a new head coach is also kind of just added an extra bit of energy and an extra bit of edge for sure. I think all of us are in the same mindset and we’re all keen to keep pushing forward.”

With a strong base now in place and a clear focus on form and performance, Scotland Women will look to carry the momentum from camp into the domestic season ahead of preparing for the Guinness Women’s Six Nations later in the Spring.

The post Scotland Women Lay Foundations at Training Camp appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

Sione Fukofuka brings a decade of experience across international women’s and men’s teams. This began with a coaching role within the Australian Youth Women’s sevens team, and then the Australian Men’s sevens team in 2019.   

A trained teacher, Fukofuka joined the Wallaroos as assistant coach in 2021 before moving to his most recent role as Head Coach of the US Women’s National team in 2023, which he held through to the culmination of this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.  

Sione will join Scottish Rugby in January, subject to visa, relocating to Scotland to be based in Edinburgh.  

Commenting on his appointment, Sione Fukofuka said: “I am honoured and privileged to have the opportunity to lead the Scotland Women’s programme. Scottish Rugby’s vision and direction for the future of the women’s programme is one that drew me to the role.  

“An aligned domestic pathway and emphasis on the increasing professionalism of the senior programme through the Celtic Challenge and the senior Scotland Women team is exciting.  

“I look forward to connecting with the talented players, quality staff and invested stakeholders across the program to drive a high-performance environment that develops the players to their potential and produces a style of rugby that can be successful.” 

Scottish Rugby Chief Executive, Alex Williamson, said: “I am delighted to welcome Sione to Scottish Rugby at such an exciting time for the development of, not only our national team, but the whole of the girl’s and women’s game in Scotland. Sione brings many years of experience within women’s international rugby and we want to build the strongest possible coaching set up to take us forward at this crucial time.  

“In the months since our Rugby World Cup quarter-final, we have contracted more players than ever before with many of them benefiting from our first ever Central Programme at Oriam. Gemma Fay has taken up her new role as Managing Director of Women’s Rugby and her strategic direction will complement the skills Sione brings. With Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways, Andy Rhys Jones also starting in the new year, we now have a highly talented leadership group for the whole women’s game for the first time 

David Nucifora, Director of Performance, commented: “After a competitive recruitment process, it is great to be able to welcome Sione into our Women’s programme. The experience that he brings from coaching international women’s teams was what we were looking for take our women’s programme forward.  

“In October we announced an increase in contracts and with additional players also joining them in our Central Programme in Oriam, which is fully underway, Sione is joining at a pivotal time. Our national team is in a strong position after the Rugby World Cup and with Sione able to bring in new experience the journey towards Australia 2029 looks exciting.” 

Commenting on the appointment, Managing Director of Women’s Rugby, Gemma Fay, said: “Sione’s appointment is key to the next step in the development of our Scotland Women national team.  

“It is an exciting year with the new global calendar set to begin the next world cup cycle in earnest and give our international players a higher level of consistent opposition throughout the season. 

“Sione’s experience in different women’s high performance environments and coaching knowledge make him a excellent fit for the next chapter of our women’s team and new high performance programme. 

“Our new Women’s High Performance and Pathway Manager, Andy, also starts in January and will be key to ensuring the alignment between the on field aspects and the development of our Pathway.  

They both will be working closely with all players in the programme, as well as our Celtic Challenge teams, Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors and we look forward to working with them as we move into our new Women and Girls Strategy in 2026.” 

The post Scottish Rugby names Sione Fukofuka as Scotland Women Head Coach appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

“We’ve never seen anything like it: demand for tickets is off the scale,” says Gemma Fay, Scottish Rugby’s Head of Girls & Women’s Strategy. “This Scotland team has such an amazing connection with the fans. As well as the brilliant on-field performances, it’s the players’ personalities and their engagement with the fans, that’s captured the imagination of so many people.

“We said when we announced we were Making Moves from Hive to Scottish Gas Murrayfield that we wanted to celebrate the women’s game in Scotland by playing in front of the biggest ever crowd for a standalone women’s sporting event in Scotland. To be over half-way towards that target with almost eight months still to go is fantastic and shows not only how far the women’s game has come, but how far it could go!”

Great ticket prices & West Stand now open!
Ticket prices continue to be fantastic value for money. Adults are £21.50, under-18s £11.50 and under-12s for only £6.50, which means a family of four (2 x adults, 2 x U12s) can come to the game for only £56 (booking fees included in the price). Now that all available seats in the East Stand at Scottish Gas Murrayfield are sold out, tickets are now available in the West Stand.

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW

The post Scotland Women v Red Roses 2026: Crowd surpasses 10,000 appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

Chloe was recently profiled on The One Show on BBC when she returned to Melrose RFC where her love of the game was nurtured. “This place is massive for me,” Chloe says of rugby club, “because it gave me my major stepping stone in life to make rugby my career.” In the interview Chloe sits in the stands at The Greenyards (the home of Melrose RFC) and chats to her big brother about her early days playing the game. Watch it here.

Another perspective on Chloe is provided by her team-mate Rhona Lloyd, part of the series of “Meet my Teammate” player profiles produced by Scottish Gas. “She’s an absolute weapon for Scotland… a try-scoring machine,” says Rhona. Click here to see all the Scottish Gas Meet my Teammate profiles.

Scotland open their Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign this Saturday against their Six Nations rivals, Wales (Saturday 23 August, kick-off 2.45pm, live on BBC Sport).

Scotland v England: Next home game!

And don’t forget, the next time Scotland Women play at home is against England’s Red Roses on the second weekend of the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations Championship. This is the game that’s celebrating the growth of women’s sport by Making Moves and taking the Scotland v England game out of Hive Stadium and into Scottish Gas Murrayfield, as part of the stadium’s 100^th birthday celebrations.

Already close to becoming the biggest-ever crowd for a home Scotland Women game, the hope is that by next April, it’ll be played in front of the biggest ever crowd for a standalone women’s sporting event in Scotland!

Best Seat, Best Price Ticket Offer

Fans can choose to sit anywhere for the same great price:

£15 (adults)
£10 (under-18)
£5 (children U12)

The opening offer means a family of four (two adults; two U12s) can secure seats in this prime location for only £40! The introductory ticket offer is still in place but will end soon, i.e. when we reach the highest ever crowd for a home Scotland Women game. Ticket prices will still be very competitive after that, but if you want the discounted prices don’t hang about because we’ve almost reached that highest home crowd target – so go and grab them now!

BUY TICKETS NOW

Groups and Schools Offer

Scottish Rugby’s ever-popular Groups & Schools Offer is once again available. Located in North and South Stands, tickets are priced £11.50 (Adult) and £6.50 (U18). They must be booked as a single group, but there’s no limit on the number of tickets that can be booked in this way. To book your group, simply email the Ticket Centre at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on ticket.centre@sru.org.uk with the number of tickets required – these will then be reserved and payment organised.

The post Chloe Rollie: Scotland’s “Try-Scoring Machine” appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

On hearing the news, Scotland captain Rachel Malcom immediately thanked the fans. “What amazing news,” she said. “To know there are so many fans already committed to going to the game next spring is immense! It’s a massive statement about how far the women’s game in Scotland has come.”

Scottish Rugby’s Head of Women’s & Girls Rugby, Gemma Fay is equally effusive: “The response from fans has been absolutely brilliant. We said when we announced the move that we wanted to attract the biggest ever crowd for a standalone women’s sporting event in Scotland, and although there’s a long way to go, we’re chuffed to bits that the crowd is already approaching the equivalent of a sold-out Hive Stadium!”

Head of Women’s & Girls Rugby, Gemma Fay, announcing the move at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in June

The introductory ticket offer – discounted ticket price allowing fans to choose to sit anywhere for the same great price: £15 (Adults) £10 (Under-18) £5 (Under-12) – is still in place but will end soon.

“We are running the Best Seat, Best Price offer until we reach the highest ever crowd for a home Scotland Women game,” says Olaf Gueldner, Chief Customer Officer at Scottish Rugby. “Ticket prices will still be very competitive after that, but if you want the discounted prices don’t hang about because we’ve almost reached that highest home crowd target – so go and grab them now!”

Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm (left) thanked the fans when she heard the ‘amazing’ news

Best Seat, Best Price Ticket Offer

Fans can choose to sit anywhere for the same great price:

£15 (adults)
£10 (under-18)
£5 (children U12)

The opening offer means a family of four (two adults; two U12s) can secure seats in this prime location for only £40!

BUY TICKETS NOW

Groups and Schools Offer

Scottish Rugby’s ever-popular Groups & Schools Offer is once again available. Located in North and South Stands, tickets are priced £11.50 (Adult) and £6.50 (U18). They must be booked as a single group, but there’s no limit on the number of tickets that can be booked in this way. To book your group, simply email the Ticket Centre at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on ticket.centre@sru.org.uk with the number of tickets required – these will then be reserved and payment organised.

The post Scotland Women v England 2026: Closing in on crowd record! appeared first on Scottish Rugby.

This weekend’s match will take place at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana, with kick-off scheduled for 6.30pm BST.

UK-based fans will be able to follow all the action live, with Iona Whyte leading the commentary team alongside Rachel Law on co-commentary duties. Coverage will begin ahead of kick-off at 6.20pm, bringing supporters full match action from northern Italy.

This match marks the first of two summer tests for Scotland Women, who will then travel to Virgin Media Park in Cork to face Ireland on Saturday 2 August. Details regarding broadcast arrangements for the Ireland v Scotland match will be announced in due course.

Scotland last faced both opponents during the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, narrowly losing to Italy (17-25) before securing a hard-fought victory over Ireland (26-19).

Looking ahead to the summer test series, Scotland Women Head Coach Bryan Easson said: “We’re really looking forward to these Summer Tests against Italy and Ireland, which will be a vital part of our preparation for the Rugby World Cup.

Playing two high-quality teams, who pushed us hard during the Six Nations, away from home presents exactly the kind of competitive challenge we need at this stage.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to put our systems under pressure and continue building cohesion within the squad. Every minute we spend together in this pre-season phase is invaluable, and these Test matches will be crucial in sharpening our focus ahead of our opening World Cup match against Wales on 23 August.”

Lynsey McMillan, Scottish Rugby’s Head of Marketing said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering once again with BBC Alba to deliver free-to-air coverage of these matches. BBC Alba has been a long-standing supporter of the growth of the women’s game and continues to share our commitment to making it as accessible as possible – especially as we head into a hugely important season.”

The post BBC to broadcast Summer Test between Italy and Scotland appeared first on Scottish Rugby.