Rugby starlet from North Lanarkshire set to give it a try in the United States
A teenage Scottish international rugby player from North Lanarkshire is set to take up a university scholarship in the United States.
Cailin Lardner, 17, who lives in Hartwood, was amongst the forwards named by the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) for the Scotland Rugby U18 Women's squad for the Six Nations festival tournament earlier this year.
The tournament was held at Wellington College in England in April this year. Cailin enjoyed a superb time away for her first caps and played from the start against France and Ireland, and was a replacement against Italy and in a historic win over England.
The teenager, who previously lived in Allanton, is a former pupil at St Patrick's Primary in Shotts and has been playing rugby since she was 13 years old.
Her talent and hard work led her being offered the opportunity of scholarships at two universities in Miami and Charlotte. Cailin has made the decision to study and play rugby at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina.
She completed her school studies at Greenfaulds High in Cumbernauld and is now looking forward to starting at the university in August where she will major in Sports Management for her degree.
Cailin said: 'I'm really excited to play rugby in the USA and to learn more in a multi cultural environment.
'Charlotte is a beautiful city and Miami is super cool but Queens play NCAA Division One rugby in the USA which would be the equivalent to Super BUCS here in the UK.
'Miami was offering Division 2 for next season so the decision around the course and rugby was easier to make. I've been in the performance pathway with Scotland for almost three years now and have to continue playing at the highest level I can.'
As well as moving across the Atlantic, Cailin will also to sacrifice playing international rugby for the time being.
As Cailin's dad Steven explained: 'Due to the fact she's leaving the country she'll lose her Scotland Rugby contract for now, but she's still young at 17 and with plenty of time to pick that up again.
'Scotland will of course keep an eye on her progress.
'It's not lost on Cailin or any of us that rugby has been the catalyst for this opportunity along with her studies at Greenfaulds High in Cumbernauld.'
While the teenager is looking forward to the move she will miss some of the comforts of home and family.
'Obviously my mum, dad, sister, and my Border Collie Gin will be missed so much along with my wider family,' said Cailin. 'I will definitely miss a crispy roll and square sausage too!
'Queens is a fully residential university and I think coping will be made much easier with roommates, teammates and a strong student welfare culture'.
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