Scotland forward pack bolstered and England U20 cap included in WXV squad

Scotland have been able to recall a number of senior forwards upon the announcement of their WXV Global Series squad.

Rachel Malcolm, who missed three matches at the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, returns to the squad as captain. As does Evie Gallagher, Sarah Bonar and Anne Young, who each missed the entire Championship with injury.

This squad has been named just 24 hours after the bombshell confirmation that Sione Fukofuka has left his post as head coach just shy of eight months in the role. Dave Butcher will lead Scotland as interim head coach.

Scottish Rugby have also confirmed that senior assistant coach Ioan Cunningham has left his role, with Chris Laidlaw and Tom Luke drafted in on secondment to support Butcher from JAECOO Premiership Women’s Rugby clubs Harlequins and Bristol Bears. Laidlaw will join Scotland on a full-time basis at the start of September.

Scotland have home WXV Global Series fixtures against Canada, New Zealand and Australia coming up in September. In October the squad will travel to Australia for back-to-back Tests against the Wallaroos.

Former England U20 wing Katie Buchanan, who qualifies for Scotland thanks to her grandmother, is names in the squad. Last season Buchanan scored two tries for Exeter Chiefs in 15 PWR appearances.

Buchanan is one of four uncapped players in Butcher’s squad. Glasgow Warriors trio Imogen Spence, Ceitidh Ainsworth and Nicole Flynn have all been selected for the squad, that will gather on Monday 10 August, too.

It has been confirmed that Trailfinders Women pair Francesca McGhie and Lisa Thomson, along with teenage star Emily Coubrough, will miss the entirety of the WXV Global Series with injury.

Scotland Women 32-player WXV Series squad

Forwards
Leah Bartlett – Sale Sharks (54)
Holland Bogan – Glasgow Warriors (5)
Sarah Bonar – Harlequins (51)
Hollie Cunningham – Bristol Bears (7)
Elliann Clarke – Glasgow Warriors (29)
Eva Donaldson – Sale Sharks (26)
Evie Gallagher – Bristol Bears (40)
Rachel Malcolm – Captain – Trailfinders Women (64)
Elis Martin – Edinburgh Rugby (30)
Rachel McLachlan – Montpellier (59)
Molly Poolman – Edinburgh Rugby (12)
Imogen Spence – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
Lana Skeldon – Bristol Bears (87)
Alex Stewart – Edinburgh Rugby (20)
Aicha Sutcliffe – Glasgow Warriors (2)
Demi Swann – Exeter Chiefs (5)
Emma Wassell – Trailfinders Women (78)
Anne Young – Glasgow Warriors (22)

Backs
Ceitidh Ainsworth – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
Leia Brebner-Holden – Edinburgh Rugby (20)
Katie Buchanan – Exeter Chiefs (uncapped)
Shona Campbell – Sale Sharks (14)
Rhea Clarke – Glasgow Warriors (4)
Nicole Flynn – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
Rhona Lloyd – Sale Sharks (66)
Helen Nelson – Trailfinders Women (80)
Rachel Philipps – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
Hannah Ramsay – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
Chloe Rollie – Edinburgh Rugby (86)
Lucia Scott – Glasgow Warriors (12)
Meryl Smith – Bristol Bears (27)
Evie Wills – Glasgow Warriors (10)