Evie Gallagher is back for Scotland against Canada after 363 day absence from Test rugby

Evie Gallagher will make her first Test appearance in 363 days when Scotland host Canada in the WXV Global Series this weekend.

The Bristol Bears flanker missed her team’s fifth-place finish at this year’s 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations with a hamstring injury, but is immediately recalled the starting XV by interim head coach Dave Butcher.

Her last appearance in a Scotland shirt was against England in their Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 exit at the quarter-final stage.

She is part of a back-row that contains Rachel Malcolm, who missed a chunk of the Women’s Six Nations with injury, and No.8 Becky Boyd.

Elsewhere, Hollie Cunningham partners Emma Wassell in the second row, and Leah Bartlett gets the nod at loosehead in a front-row that contains the talents of Lana Skeldon and Elliann Clarke.

Scrum-half Rhea Clarke gets her first start for Scotland as she earns her fifth cap. She partners vice-captain Helen Nelson. In the backs Meryl Smith starts at inside centre and partners powerful midfield runner Rachel Philips. Chloe Rollie, Rhona Lloyd and Shona Campbell form an electric back three.

Among the replacements, Ceitidh Ainsworth and Katie Buchanan are in line for their Scotland debuts. Adelle Ferrie is named on the bench too after she joined the squad as cover for the injured Alex Stewart.

2026 WXV Global Series | Scotland match day 23 v Canada

15. Chloe Rollie – Edinburgh Rugby (86)
14. Rhona Lloyd – Sale Sharks (66)
13. Rachel Philipps – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
12. Meryl Smith – Bristol Bears (27)
11. Shona Campbell – Sale Sharks (14)
10. Helen Nelson – Vice-captain – Trailfinders Women (80)
9. Rhea Clarke – Glasgow Warriors (4)
1. Leah Bartlett – Sale Sharks (54)
2. Lana Skeldon – Bristol Bears (87)
3. Elliann Clarke – Glasgow Warriors (29)
4. Emma Wassell – Trailfinders Women (78)
5. Hollie Cunningham – Bristol Bears (7)
6. Rachel Malcolm – Captain – Trailfinders Women (64)
7. Evie Gallagher – Bristol Bears (40)
8. Becky Boyd – Glasgow Warriors (6)

Replacements

16. Aicha Sutcliffe – Glasgow Warriors (2)
17. Anne Young – Glasgow Warriors (22)
18. Molly Poolman – Edinburgh Rugby (12)
19. Eva Donaldson – Sale Sharks (26)
20. Adelle Ferrie – Edinburgh Rugby (7)
21. Ceitidh Ainsworth – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
22. Hannah Ramsay – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
23. Katie Buchanan – Exeter Chiefs (uncapped)