McDonald Named in Scotland's WXV 2 Squad

Chiefs Women's player Mairi McDonald has been named by Scotland Women Head Coach Bryan Easson in his 30-player squad to travel to Cape Town for WXV 2.

Easson has named four uncapped players, three of whom – Aila Ronald, Lucia Scott and Leia Brebner-Holden – recently participated in the Six Nations Summer Series for Scotland Women U20.

Sale Sharks’ Rachel Philipps has also been selected, the centre having recently signed to the PWR side following her time playing for Edinburgh Rugby in the Celtic Challenge.

Amongst the 17 forwards, the experienced Jade Konkel and Sarah Bonar both return to the fold after injury, Konkel for the first time since WXV 2 in 2023, and Bonar after a shoulder injury sustained against Wales in the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

Double-Olympian Lisa Thomson makes her return to XV rugby after being in Paris for the 2024 Games with Great Britain Sevens and is amongst 13 backs called upon by Easson.

Ahead of traveling to South Africa for the competition, Scotland will host Wales and Fiji in two Autumn tests.

Scotland’s schedule will begin with a Test against Wales, who are currently eighth in the World Rugby rankings, at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh on Friday 6 September (kick-off 7.35pm).

Scotland secured an historic seventh Test win in a row, against Wales in the 2024 Guinness Six Nations, ending a 20-year-long spell of defeats in Cardiff with an 18-20 victory.

For the first time in history, Scotland Women will face Fiji on Saturday 14 September, kicking off at 4.45pm ay Hive Stadium.

The Fijiana side first began competing on the international stage in 2006 and are currently positioned 13th in the World Rugby rankings.

Scotland will play three teams – Italy, Japan and Australia – in the six-team competition with matches being played in a cross-pool format, with the first match taking place on Saturday 28 September at DHL Stadium against Italy.

Scotland will then move on to face Japan on Saturday 5 October, finishing with a final match against Australia on Saturday 12 October, with both games set to take place at Athlone Stadium.

The competition also sees the final six Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 places on the line.

Forwards

Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers)
Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning)
Sarah Bonar (Harlequins)
Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears)
Lisa Cockburn (Unattached)
Eva Donaldson (Leicester Tigers)
Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears)
Jade Konkel (Harlequins)
Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning)
Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning)
Fiona McIntosh (Saracens)
Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier)
Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears)
Aila Ronald (University of Edinburgh)*
Alex Stewart (Corstorphine Cougars)
Emma Wassell (Loughborough Lightning)
Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning)

Backs

Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester-Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers)*
Coreen Grant (Saracens)
Caity Mattinson (Ealing Trailfinders)
Mairi McDonald (Exeter Chiefs)
Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers)
Rhona Lloyd (GB 7s/ Stade Bordelais)
Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning)
Emma Orr (Bristol Bears)
Rachel Philipps (Sale Sharks)*
Lisa Thomson (GB 7s/Ealing Trailfinders)
Chloe Rollie (Ealing Trailfinders)
Lucia Scott (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury)*
Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears)