Clarke joins sister in Scotland's Six Nations squad
Rhea Clarke has joined sister Elliann in being called up by Scotland and is one of nine uncapped players in head coach Bryan Easson's 34-strong extended training squad for the Women's Six Nations.The University of Edinburgh scrum-half will hope to emulate her older sibling, with Bristol Bears forward Elliann already accumulating 15 caps.Rhea is joined in the squad by uncapped Edinburgh clubmates Aila Ronald, Hannah Walker, Adelle Ferrie, Molly Poolman, along with four debutants from the English Premiership - Loughborough Lightning's Becky Boyd, Sale Sharks' Rachel Philipps and Bristol Bears duo Hollie Cunningham and Meg Varley.Centre Philipps was previously part of the squad that travelled and competed in WXV 2 in South Africa in October.Leicester Tigers fly-half Evie Wills, who has three caps, has earned her first call up since recovering from a cruciate ligament injury that ruled her out of action for the 2023-24 season.
Saracens centre Coreen Grant, Loughborough lock Emma Wassell and Bristol centre Meryl Smith are currently unavailable through injury.Louise McMillan, Fi McIntosh and Mairi McDonald have been omitted.Alongside the selected 34 players, Scotland Under-20 and Celtic Challenge players Holland Bogan, Emily Coubrough, Poppy Mellanby (all Glasgow Warriors), Talei Tawake, Natasha Logan and Hannah Ramsay (all Edinburgh) will be invited into camp as day trainers to support their development.Scotland open at home to Wales on Saturday, 22 March before travelling to La Rochelle to take on France a week later.They will then welcome Italy to Edinburgh on Sunday, 13 April before facing England in Leicester six days later.Scotland's final match will take place at home to Ireland on Saturday, 26 April.
Scotland squad
Forwards: Leah Bartlett (Leicester Tigers), Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning), Becky Boyd (Loughborough Lightning), Sarah Bonar (Harlequins), Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears), Hollie Cunningham (Bristol Bears), Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears), Adelle Ferrie (Edinburgh/Corstorphine Cougars), Jade Konkel (Harlequins), Rachel Malcolm, captain (Loughborough Lightning), Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning), Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier), Aila Ronald (Edinburgh/University of Edinburgh), Molly Poolman (Edinburgh/University of Edinburgh), Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears), Alex Stewart (Edinburgh/Corstorphine Cougars), Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning), Molly Wright (Sale Sharks).Backs: Leia Brebner-Holden (Loughborough Lightning), Beth Blacklock (Saracens), Rhea Clarke (Edinburgh/University of Edinburgh), Rhona Lloyd (Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais), Caity Mattinson (Trailfinders), Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers), Liz Musgrove (Trailfinders), Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning), Rachel Philipps (Sale Sharks), Chloe Rollie (Trailfinders), Lucia Scott (Edinburgh/Gloucester-Hartpury), Emma Orr (Bristol Bears), Lisa Thomson (Trailfinders), Hannah Walker (Edinburgh/University of Edinburgh), Evie Wills (Leicester Tigers), Meg Varley (Bristol Bears).
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