Francesca McGhie: Scotland teammates praise ‘phenomenal’ try scorer

Francesca McGhie’s international career began against England in 2023 and now the Scotland winger who is in the form of her life is preparing to face the Red Roses once again in a Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final on Sunday.

Those who follow the women’s game in Scotland closely have known for a while that McGhie had the capabilities to be something really special – and now she is showing the whole world just how good she can be.

Six tries in three Pool B games against Wales, Fiji, and Canada helped Scotland reach the last eight. The tally has also equalled Scotland’s individual try record at a World Cup.

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On Sunday, they play world number one side and tournament favourites England at Ashton Gate in Bristol and 22-year-old McGhie, who recently joined Trailfinders Women from Leicester Tigers, will be eyeing up more tries given that she now has an amazing 16 in just 25 internationals.

“She’s just incredible,” McGhie’s teammate and close friend Emma Orr, said.

“She had a tough summer with a few niggles and injuries so to see her come back into the team and score tries for fun in the last three games has been amazing.

“As a 13 it makes my job very easy to get her into space because I know if I do then there is a chance that she will go on and score. She is so talented and is playing with a lot of confidence right now.

“I am just really, really happy for her. She’s got such a bright future ahead and hopefully I can try and keep up with her try-scoring exploits because she is flying right now.

“And off the pitch Fran is just such a lovely, funny person. She’s definitely one of my best friends in the squad so I feel lucky to have broken through around the same time as her and to be sharing this journey with her.”

McGhie only took up rugby via East Lothian Girls training in 2018 after a background in hockey, lacrosse, and dancing, the latter seeing her involved with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland at the time.

However, once she picked up a rugby ball, it soon became her sport of choice. In 2021-22, her first senior season, the former Loretto and George Watson’s College pupil scored a hat-trick of tries for Watsonians as they won the Tennent’s Premiership final against Hillhead Jordanhill.

By that time, she was well on the radar of the Scotland Futures and full Scotland coaches, and scintillating form in the Celtic Challenge competition for the Thistles early in 2023 sealed her call-up to the main squad and a debut versus the Red Roses.

“Following the Wales game a few weeks ago we were calling her Fran McThree after her hat-trick,” team mate and close friend Evie Wills joked.

“She’s phenomenal, she’s just been a born athlete since day dot.

“I’m so happy that she’s now being able to show this on a world stage.

“She’s worked tirelessly for the past few seasons and she’s improved so, so much. So, yes, she has raw talent, but gosh she’s put in a lot of hard work to get where she is.

“Since she moved to England and the PWR she’s added more strings to her bow and this is why she’s one of the best players in the world in her position right now.

“When we are together in our downtime we don’t talk about rugby a lot, she is very humble and we switch off and have a laugh, but when she is on the pitch the focused athlete in her comes out.”

While the hat-trick of tries versus Wales in a player of the match showing, two against Fiji and one versus Canada may have grabbed all of the headlines, McGhie has also improved markedly in recent times in terms of defence.

That was illustrated perfectly by an amazing cover tackle versus Fiji and Scotland assistant coach Ross Miller said:  “The effort defensively from the players to scramble in the games so far has been excellent and Fran McGhie’s cover tackle against Fiji is one moment that stands out.

“The grit and determination she showed to get over there and make the tackle sums up her character and the character in our squad and Fran is an excellent all-round talent.”

Head coach Bryan Easson added:  “One of the great things about bringing young players into a group is seeing them grow and wow has Fran grown since she made her debut against England in the Six Nations in Newcastle aged 19 in 2023.

“She has grown so much as a player and a person since then. She is a joy to have around the group and with the talent that she has she is set for an amazing future in the game.”