SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER 2.20PM SCOTSTOUN STADIUM

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OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME INTERIM HEAD COACH WELCOME Junior Supporters Club It’s an exciting time to come into the Scotland Women set-up, with much SCOTLAND’S YOUNGEST FANS to look forward to as we bid to earn a place at the 2021 in . In what has been a year like no other, we have an opportunity to qualify for the biggest tournament in rugby and demonstrate that the squad is making real progress on the global stage. First of all, we must steel ourselves for the remaining fixtures of the truncated 2020 Women’s Six Nations, Bryan Easson with games against today’s opponents and on BBC ALBA and the players are acutely aware that then Wales serving as excellent preparation for a there will be many watching at home, desperate to vital World Cup Qualifier against Italy at the start see their team do well. of December. I thank you for your continued support of the Scotland The players have trained exceptionally hard since Women team and over the coming matches we hope being allowed back into camp and the desire to put in to repay that with some strong displays as we return some good performances, to make supporters proud, to the international stage. has been evident throughout. BRYAN EASSON Although we can’t expect fans for this game against Scotland Women Interim Head Coach France at Scotstoun, the match is being show live

TODAY’S MASCOTS Name: Isla Donaldson Name: Shea Milne Age: 10 Age: 7 Club: Currie Chieftains Club: Nairn Thunderbolts Favourite Player: Favourite Player: Chloe Rollie Leah Bartlett Good Luck Message: Good Luck Message: Good Luck Girls! Go smash it! Try your best, you can SIGN UP NOW do it! Little Lochies | Junior Thistles | Scotland Pack scottishrugby.org 3 Refreshed logo. Same passion for our partnership. SP ENERGY NETWORKS A message from Frank Mitchell, CEO of SP Energy Networks Looking back at what we aimed to achieve when we came on board WELCOME as Official Partner of Scotland Women, I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come. Our aim has always been to support and drive forward On behalf of SP Energy Networks, a very grass-roots rugby in Scotland, but also to get closer to the communities we serve. warm welcome back to support Scotland Through our partnership it’s become clear that parallels can be drawn Women in their Six Nations rescheduled between sport and business, allowing us to work on joint initiatives to fixture against France. This has been a help raise awareness of engineering as a career choice – especially for women and girls. challenging year for many, so I’m thrilled to see the team back in action and back Three seasons and still going strong As we move into our third season with Scotland Women, the on the pitch at Scotstoun. world around us is changing faster than ever before. SP Energy Networks is proud of the partnership with Despite the challenging backdrop of a pandemic we’ve Scottish Rugby, which supports Scotland’s Women, worked tirelessly to keep electricity flowing to over 3.5 million Scotland U18’s and Scotland U20’s as well as the customers, at a time when electricity has become more communities we both serve. crucial than ever to our lives. We’ve had a relentless focus on the safety of our colleagues and customers during Looking back at what we aimed to achieve when this time, and I know that same focus on safety is we came on board as partners I’m incredibly proud shared by Scottish Rugby. of how far we’ve come. Our aim has always been to New threads. Refreshed logo. support and drive forward grass-roots rugby, but also Many months ago, the new season’s kit was on the to get closer to the communities we serve and help drawing board. There’s incredible pride in seeing to raise awareness of engineering as a career choice – our logo front and centre on the kit as Scotland especially for women and girls. Women prepare to return to the pitch. The refreshed Frank Mitchell logo is directly linked to feedback from the fans. We In times like these we see the real value in partnerships. listened and we changed. For all of us at SP Energy Networks it’s only cemented We hope you all love the new look, as much as we do! our commitment to not only supporting the game but Stronger together supporting Scotland Women. We’re delighted to still be Official Partner of Scotland Women I know you’ll join me in welcoming the team back to and stand ready to offer all the support we can to make sure the the pitch and cheer them on louder than ever – even game goes from strength to strength. It’s times like this where we if we can’t all be there in person. see the real value in partnerships. We really are stronger together. I hope to see you all back at Scotstoun soon! Good luck to Scotland today! Frank FRANK MITCHELL CEO, SP Energy Networks

Be part of our squad. Join the conversation: @SPEnergyNetworks @SPEnergyNetwork 4 LEADERSHIP . ENGAGEMENT . ACHIEVEMENT . ENJOYMENT . RESPECT 5 1 2 3 LEAHDarcy BARTLETT Graham LANAPete SKELDON Horne MEGANDuncan KENNEDY Taylor

INTERIM HEAD COACH Bryan Easson ASSISTANT COACHES Tyrone Holmes & Ross Miller 4 5 EMMATommy WASSELL Seymour SARAHBlair Kinghorn BONAR

REPLACEMENTS 16. Molly Wright 17. Katie Dougan 18. Christine Belisle 19. Siobhan Cattigan 20. Louise McMillan 21. Rachel Law 6 8 7 22. Abi Evans RACHELDarcy MALCOLM Graham (C) JADEPete KONKEL Horne RACHELDuncan Mc LACHLANTaylor 23. Annabel Sergeant

SIGN UP TO 9 10 12 13 SCOTLAND MAIRI McDONALD HELEN NELSON LISAPete THOMSON Horne HANNAHDuncan Taylor SMITH MATCH OFFICIALS SEASON 2020/21 MEMBERSHIP REFEREE Sara Cox (England) ASSISTANT REFEREES Joy Neville (IRFU) & AVAILABLE NOW FROM £19 11 15 14 Francesca Martin (WRU) scottishrugby.org TMO MEGANDarcy GAFFNEYGraham CHLOEBlair Kinghorn ROLLIE RACHELTommy SHANKLAND Seymour Ian Davies (WRU) #AsOne6 LEADERSHIP . ENGAGEMENT . ACHIEVEMENT . ENJOYMENT . RESPECT 7 1 2 3 RKYADarcy ARRICASTRE Graham AGATHEPete Horne SOCHAT ROSEDuncan BERNADOU Taylor

HEAD COACH Annick Hayraud ASSISTANT COACHES Samuel Cherouk & Stéphane Eymard 4 5 COUMBADarcy Graham DIALLO SAFIPete N’DIAYE Horne

REPLACEMENTS 16. Laure Touyé 17. Dhia Maïlys Traoré 18. Clara Joyeux 19. Lenaig Corson 20. Marjorie Mayans 21. Yanna Rivoalen 22. Camille Boudaud 6 7 8 23. Caroline Boujard AXELLEDarcy BERTHOUMIEU Graham EMELINEPete Horne GROS GAËLLEDuncan HERMET Taylor

9 10 12 13 PAULINEDarcy BOURDONGraham AUDREYPete Horne ABADIE MORGANEDuncan PEYRONNET Taylor ELISEDuncan PIGNOT Taylor

11 15 14 MARINEDarcy MÉNAGERGraham JESSYPete TRÉMOULIÈRE Horne CYRIELLEDuncan Taylor BANET

8 LEADERSHIP . ENGAGEMENT . ACHIEVEMENT . ENJOYMENT . RESPECT 9 FORTY UP FOR LANA

Eight years after winning a first international cap, Lana Skeldon reaches her 40th today against France. The former Hawick High School pupil has come a long way since beginning her rugby journey, both personally and professionally. “I had just finished school when I first got my cap,” have a front of shirt sponsor (SP Energy networks) and she said. “I had no real direction in life and couldn’t BBC Alba showing all our games is fantastic because really figure out what I wanted to do. it gives our supporters who can’t always travel that opportunity to access our games easier. “I knew University wasn’t something I wanted to do straight out of school; all I wanted to do was play “I’m just so grateful for all the amazing opportunities rugby! That wasn’t an option back then, so I went I’ve had in rugby so far. Getting to go all over the from my coaching Modern Apprentice with Scottish world and be involved in all the different teams Rugby to a support worker and finally ended up in the whilst making so many friends that I hold very close factory. I enjoyed it as it allowed me to train and work to my heart is something I will be forever grateful to to get money! rugby for. “However, now I am very fortunate to be a contracted “I didn’t fit in that well at school because I wasso player. It’s like I am living my childhood dream. It different from all the other girls but when I came to makes recovery and training so much better and I rugby it felt like home.” have learnt a lot about myself over the last 24 months.

“I feel like it’s a once in a lifetime “opportunity, so I am taking it with both hands and really enjoying it - I don’t think I have ever been this happy before as I am now.”

Skeldon is acutely aware of how much the women’s game has come on in Scotland, adding: “There is a lot more support within the women’s game now compared to when I got my first cap. For example, we

10 LEADERSHIP . ENGAGEMENT . ACHIEVEMENT . ENJOYMENT . RESPECT RUGBY WORLD CUP 2021

THE TARGET FOR SCOTLAND It has been a tumultuous start to the Women’s Six Nations for Scotland although for this year, the Six Nations is not the team’s sole focus. The 2021 Rugby World Cup is being held in New The European Qualifiers will be played as a single Zealand next year and Scotland have designs on round-robin tournament, to be held on the weekends being one of the sides participating. of 5, 12 and 19 of December 2020. Eight out of the twelve teams are already set for the The winner of the tournament will qualify for Rugby tournament; the top seven from the last World Cup World Cup 2021 and the runner-up will progress to in Ireland (2017) plus South Africa, who won their the final qualification tournament, which will be continental qualifier. organised by in 2021. Scotland Women will take part in the qualifying tournament in December this year. The first game for Scotland will see the side face Italy away on Qualified so far for the 2021 Sunday 6 December, which will also double up as a Women’s Rugby World Cup: final match in the Women’s Six Nations tournament. 1. New Zealand 5. The winner of the Women’s Rugby Europe (hosts / holders) 6. Championship 2020 will join Scotland, Ireland and 2. England 7. Wales Italy, who have already been confirmed by World 3. USA 8. South Africa Rugby to take part in the Rugby World Cup 2021 4. France European Qualifiers.

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