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Why Fukofuka has given Louise McMillan back her Scotland dream
By Gary Heatly
Scotland head coach Sione Fukofuka says the returning Louise McMillan can “add real value to the squad” after the 53-capper was named in the training group for the upcoming Women’s Six Nations.
There was a lot to unpack when Fukofuka’s 38-strong squad for the showpiece event landed on Wednesday lunch time, but the one name that jumped off the page was that of McMillan.
The Saracens second row made her international debut back in 2016 versus Spain and her latest appearance came versus Australia in the WXV competition in late 2024.
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When she missed out on Rugby World Cup selection last year she said “I hope this isn’t the end, but I’m also self-aware to read the writing on the wall”. Many thought she may retire from the international scene.
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However, after spending 522 days in the international wilderness, with Bryan Easson having been replaced by Fukofuka as head coach, the 28-year-old second-row currently in great form in the PWR, is back in the mix.
“I think if you know Louise then you know that she’s pretty passionate about Scotland,” Fukofuka said. “We wanted to explore all players that have represented Scotland over the last 12 to 18 months.
“With Louise in particular the opportunity to have a conversation with her and explore whether or not she would be open to being considered for selection was a really positive one.
“We’ve been tracking her performances with Saracens and we’re pretty confident that she’s going to add real value to the squad.
“Since Christmas in particular the Saracens team as a whole has played pretty well and Louise has been a big part of that, either starting or coming off the bench. She’s had an impact each time that she’s been involved in that Saracens team.
“What we’ve seen is an experienced operator playing well and a level of physicality that we feel can have an impact within the game model that we want to play and we’d like to give her that opportunity to compete for a position.
“The fact that second-row important position when it comes to our set piece is another element that we’re really looking for Louise to add value in.”
Australian Fukofuka has selected 31 core players and seven development ones who will meet up for training from March 31st ahead of the big event beginning on April 11th when the Scots head to Cardiff to take on Wales in the Principality Stadium.
Of the 31 core players, McMillan, fellow second-row Hollie Cunningham, winger Shona Campbell, centre Rachel Philipps, back three player Lucia Scott and stand-off/centre Meryl Smith were not at last year’s World Cup in England for various reasons.
Montrose product Campbell, 24, has previously earned nine caps for her country at XVs, but was then part of the GB Sevens set up in recent years.
She joined Sale Sharks last summer and has scored seven tries in the competition so far this season.
“Transitioning back in from sevens she’s made the commitment to play XVs with Sale,” Fukofuka explained.
“I think that the decision to go to Sale has been a bit of a masterstroke for her as they play a really expansive style of rugby and she’s playing really well within their systems.
“I’m excited to have her in in our programme because it provides a level of speed and an attacking challenge that that defences then have to adjust for.
“Having had the opportunity to work with a number of players that have transitioned from sevens back to XVs previously, I’m really excited with what Shona will provide us with, but also about giving her the opportunity to help transition back into that international XVs space as well.”
And since Smith, 24, returned to play for Bristol Bears recently after a long-term knee injury, she has been in top form and will be looking to add to her 22 caps during April and May.
The head coach said: “We’re excited to see Meryl back out there competing and playing and she provides a number of different options for us.
“She can play 10, she can play 12 and she has a level of versatility that we feel will allow her to express herself within the system that we want to play.
“We want to play with a lot of width and we want to move the ball and Meryl’s a player that provides us the opportunity to do that. She’s coming in with form so it’s really exciting to have her involved.”
The group is once again captained by back-row Rachel Malcolm, but her fellow experienced campaigners Sarah Bonar and Lisa Thomson are not included due to injury with only the latter having any hope of making it back to play later in the tournament that runs until May 17th.
“At the moment Lisa Thompson potentially will be in a position to be available for selection towards the end of the of the Six Nations tournament, but unfortunately for Sarah Bonar, her timelines put her outside of that window,” Fukofuka confirmed.
The two uncapped players in the core group of 31 are Aila Ronald and Hannah Walker while uncapped group Holland Bogan, Emily Coubrough, Poppy Fletcher, Imogen Spence, Aicha Sutcliffe, Ceitidh Ainsworth and Rianna Darroch are the seven development players.
Asked why those seven players – who are likely to play in the Six Nations under-21 Series, but could push for full caps during this window – were picked in the development group, the head coach explained: “We feel like they played really well through the Celtic Challenge and although obviously the results didn’t go the way that we would have liked in terms of Scotland rugby, what it did do is it’s provided a number of young players with opportunities to play against international level players.
“If you look at their age bracket, by the time we hit the 2029 World Cup they’ll be four years older and we can help progress their development right now and obviously push it forward over the next four years.”
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