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Scotland women's national rugby league team

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Scotland
Team information
Governing bodyScotland Rugby League
RegionEurope
Head coachAdy Picton
IRL ranking 20 Decrease 1 (31 December 2025)[1]
Uniforms
First colours
Team results
First international
 Wales 18–12 Scotland
(Neath, Wales; 3 August 2025)

The Scotland women's national rugby league team represents Scotland in women's rugby league. They are administered by Scotland Rugby League.

History

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In May 2018, Scotland Rugby League announced that they would include a women's section at their development day and sought to find players eligible to play for a Scotland women's team.[2] The following year Andrea Dobson was appointed to be the first head coach for a women's national team to be launched with the aim of taking part in the 2021 Women's Emerging Nations World Championship.[a][3] However, in March 2020, rugby league in Scotland was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in August 2020, the tournament was cancelled, leading to the establishment of a Scotland women's team being postponed.[4][5]

In February 2025, Scotland Rugby League announced a new coaching setup for the women's team, with John Whalley taking on the role of head coach.[6][7] The first train-on squad for the Scotland women's team was announced in April 2025 along with plans for their initial matches, later confirmed to be against Wales in August and a tri-series with Jamaica and England Community Lions beginning in October.[8][9][10][7] Scotland were also invited to take part in the RFL Women's Nines in July 2025, but withdrew shortly before the competition.[7][11][b]

On 3 August 2025, Scotland made their international debut against Wales. Their first try was scored by Grace Field in the opening minutes of the match. Scotland, who trailed 12–10 at half time, drew level in the second half, but ultimately lost 18–12 with Wales scoring the winning try in the last two minutes of the match.[13][14] On 1 November 2025, Scotland recorded their first victory with a 38–12 win over Jamaica.[15] In January 2026, assistant coach Ady Picton, was appointed as head coach of the team.[16]

Players

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Current squad

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Squad for match against United States on 27 February 2026.[17] Tallies in the table include the full international matches (against Wales, Jamaica, and the USA).

J# Player Position(s) Club Debut M T G Pts
1 Rebecca Smart Fullback London Broncos 2025 3 1 0 4
2 Raphaella Aquilina Wing Bristol Golden Ferns 2025 2 1 0 4
3 Stephanie Gray Centre, Second-row Salford Red Devils 2025 3 1 0 4
4 Enya Lackie Centre Bristol Golden Ferns 2025 3 0 0 0
5 Olivia Barnard Wing Wigan St Patricks 2026 1 0 0 0
6 Emma Welsford Stand-off, Centre Swinton Lionesses 2025 3 1 0 4
7 Isabel Glover Scrum-half Thatto Heath Crusaders 2025 3 0 0 0
13 Georgia Briggs Prop, Second-row Swinton Lionesses 2025 3 0 0 0
9 Cerys Gregory Hooker York Valkyrie 2025 2 0 0 0
10 Robyn Price Prop Bristol Golden Ferns 2025 2 0 0 0
14 Samantha Simpson Second-row, Centre Swinton Lionesses 2025 2 2 0 8
12 Ciorstaidh Ainsworth Second-row Stirling County RFC 2025 2 0 0 0
8 Nicole Stewart Loose forward, Second-row Barrow Raiders 2025 2 1 3 10
11 Grace Field Prop Leeds Rhinos 2025 3 2 0 8
15 Morgan Pearson Hooker Swinton Lionesses 2025 3 0 0 0
16 Betti Ginnelly interchange Stewartry RFC 2026 1 0 0 0
17 Rebecca White interchange Workington Town 2025 2 0 0 0

Past squads

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Team for the inaugural match against Wales on 3 August 2025.[12]

J# Player Position Club
1 Rebecca Smart Fullback London Broncos
2 Sarah Smart Wing London Broncos
3 Sammi Simpson Centre Swinton Lionesses
4 Emma Welsford Centre Swinton Lionesses
5 Evie Tonkin Wing Workington Town
6 Demi Fisher Stand-off Swinton Lionesses
7 Isabel Glover Scrum-half Thatto Heath Crusaders
8 Grace Field Prop Leeds Rhinos
9 Abi Gordon Hooker Leigh Leopards
10 Kaiya Glynn Prop Leeds Rhinos
11 Charlotte Hill Second-row Swinton Lionesses
12 Stephanie Gray Second-row Salford Red Devils
13 Nicole Stewart Loose forward Barrow Raiders
14 Morgan Pearson interchange Swinton Lionesses
15 Georgia Briggs interchange Oulton Raidettes
16 Rebecca Moffat interchange Cartha Queens Park RFC
17 Enya Lackie interchange Bristol Golden Ferns
18 Ciorstaidh Ainsworth — Stirling County RFC
19 Betti Ginnelly — Stewartry Sirens RFC

Results

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Full Internationals

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Date Opponent Score[c] Tournament Venue Video Report(s)
3 Aug 2025  Wales 12–18 International Wales The Gnoll, Neath, Wales [18] [13][14]
1 Nov 2025  Jamaica 38–12 International England Featherstone Lions, Featherstone, England [15]
27 Feb 2026  United States 26–14 International United States Cougar Stadium (Coronado High School), Henderson, Nevada, USA [19] [20]

Other matches

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Date Opponent Score[d] Tournament Venue Video Report(s)
18 Oct 2025 England England Amateurs 4–18 Friendly England Pilkington Recs, St Helens, England [21]

Notes

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  1. ^ This would have been held as part of the 2021 Festival of World Cups
  2. ^ Note that several members of the Scotland squad for their first international played for clubs that took part in the 2025 Nines[12]
  3. ^ Scotland score given first
  4. ^ Scotland score given first

References

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  1. ^ "IRL World Rankings: Women". International Rugby League. 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  2. ^ "Women's Development Day". Scotland Rugby League. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Scotland appoint Dobson as Women's Head Coach". Scotland Rugby League. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Scotland Rugby League suspends all rugby in Scotland". Scotland Rugby League. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  5. ^ Shaw, Matthew (27 August 2020). "Festival of World Cups postponed". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Scotland Women's Rugby League announce new coaching team". Scotland Rugby League. 16 February 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "Scotland Women to make debut". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3485. 16 June 2025. p. 2.
  8. ^ "Scotland Women name 2025 train-on squad". Scotland Rugby League. 27 April 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  9. ^ "England, Jamaica, Scotland to contest women's tri-series". International Rugby League. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Wales to host Scotland Women's international debut ahead of England clash". International Rugby League. 2 July 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Wigan Warriors retain Women's Nines title in remarkable fashion". Total Rugby League. 6 July 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Wales and Scotland Women name squads for historic clash". European Rugby League. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Wales Women work hard for win over Scotland". Wales Rugby League. 3 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Scotland beaten by Wales at the last in thrilling international debut". Total Rugby League. 3 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  15. ^ a b "Jamaica 12 38 Scotland". European Rugby League. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Ady Picton Appointed as Women's Head Coach". Scotland Rugby League. 26 January 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  17. ^ "USA and Scotland Name Squads For Friday's Las Vegas Triple". European Rugby League. 26 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  18. ^ "Wales v Scotland - Live Rugby League - English Commentary - S4C". YouTube. S4C Chwaraeon. 3 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  19. ^ "USA Hawks vs Scotland Bravehearts - Women's International Match - Livestream - 2026". YouTube. USA Rugby League. 27 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  20. ^ "United States of America 14 26 Scotland". International Rugby League. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  21. ^ "Match Report". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3503. 20 October 2025. p. 20.
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