‘I am representing that link’: Katie Buchanan on why she chose Scotland

Katie Buchanan admits that it has been a whirlwind few weeks, but says that it has all been worth it and that it was a “dream come true” to become Scotland cap #255 last weekend.

In the 57th minute of the WXV Global Series opener with Canada on Saturday, scrum-half Ceitidh Ainsworth entered the fray for her first appearance for the national team and then, six minutes later, winger Buchanan followed her onto the Hive Stadium turf.

Scotland lost the match 64-26, but nothing and nobody could wipe the smile off Exeter Chiefs’ flyer Buchanan’s face at the end of the game as she embraced with two of her aunts and her older brother and his partner who were in the stands.

Back in 2023, Buchanan played for England under-20s against a Scotland Futures side in Newcastle while since then she was named in a wider Red Roses training squad at one stage, but her colours are well and truly nailed to the Scottish mast now.

“Making my full Scotland debut is something I’m massively proud of,” the 23-year-old said.

“I’m proud of all of my heritage and the cultures that come with that as I’m half Jamaican, a quarter Scottish and a quarter English.

“And being able to learn so much more than I have been able to before about Scotland and what’s driven this team in the past is really something that I’m so thankful that I’ve got to experience.

“I’m very happy to represent Scotland.

“I qualify to play through my mum’s mum, who was from Glasgow. Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away when my mum was in her late 20s, but it’s really nice to be able to connect back to Scotland for my mum because she was really close to her own mum and it feels like I am representing that link.

“Two of my aunts – my dad’s sisters – plus my oldest brother and his partner were at the Canada game and my mum and my dad will be up this weekend for the New Zealand game which will be great.

“In terms of getting on for my debut, it was good.

“It was obviously not the result that we wanted, but the moment and the experience was just something that I’m super proud of.

“I felt super comfortable going on because we’d put in so much work and preparation throughout the pre-season period to get ready for this game [against the Black Ferns].

“And the group of girls here as a whole have been amazing, bringing me in and helping me.

“Shona and Rhona [Campbell and Lloyd, the starting wingers versus Canada] have really taken me under their wing, helped me out and helped me fit into the group.

“In that aspect of it, I felt comfortable and confident about executing my role.

“And I play with and against a lot of the Canada players in the PWR and that definitely mitigated the nerves and the pressure that I would have maybe felt.

“But, obviously, international rugby is a higher level and a faster paced game than what I am used to so it was a bit of a step up.”

It is likely to be another step up yet again if the former Mansfield, Loughborough College and Exeter University player is picked to take on the Black Ferns this coming Saturday back at the Hive in Scotland’s second WXV game.

The thought of taking on the second best team in the world is one that excites Buchanan though and, since the start of August, she has just been embracing every challenge that has come her way.

It all started with a phone call from Scottish Rugby representatives who were aware of her Scottish connections and then, on August 4, she was named in interim head coach Dave Butcher’s training squad for the three home WXV Global Series matches.

Since August 9 she has been part of four weeks worth of pre-season training at Oriam in Edinburgh and then the Canada match week and she is trying to take it all as it comes.

“I’ve always had it in my head that it [playing for Scotland] was an avenue that I could explore and that I would like to explore,” she explained.

“Just before this WXV camp, I had a phone call to ask if I would be interested in coming up and I said yes and now here we are, I’ve got one cap under my belt so it’s worked out pretty well so far!

“Seriously though, it all happened very quickly.

“I thought I’d come into the group and just find my feet a little bit and, maybe towards the end of the WXV campaign, put my hand up [for selection].

“But I’m a very competitive person so I was always hoping I’d get a cap during this WXV period and for it to come in the first game was a dream come true.”

Buchanan’s competitive streak partly comes from growing up with two older brothers.

The brother that was not at the Canada match, Lee, is a professional footballer for Birmingham City who has previously turned out for Werder Bremen in Germany and earned England age-grade caps and Buchanan stated: “My oldest brother is not really overly sporty, but he’s my biggest supporter so he was there at the weekend and he’s always there to support me and my other brother.

“My other brother is probably the reason I chose to play rugby.

“When we were growing up, he was always wanting to wrestle, his favourite thing on the TV was WWE wrestling so I think that’s why I enjoy the contact side of things so much!

“We were always doing athletics growing up and he’s always been football crazy so, with me playing rugby, it’s nice to have someone that I can look up to who also plays sport.

“He’s been a professional footballer since he was 18 so seeing him strive for that and push his body in different ways has definitely been an inspiration for me.

“And it has been – and continues to be – a big few weeks for me.

“I’m just trying to take it in my stride and just take everything as it comes, learn from each experience and just enjoy the moments as they come.”