Scotland’s season gets underway

Action from last season's Donna Kennedy Cup. (Photo: SRU)

TheDonna Kennedy Cupwas a late addition to last year’s Scottish domestic season, being added as one a raft of reforms following the appointment of Sheila Begbie as head of women’s rugby.

This year the match opens what is a crucial season for Scottish rugby. Scotland will be looking to build on last season’s much improved Six Nations performance, but are also faced with having to plan for a crucial World Cup qualification tie with the winner of Rugby Europe’s eliminator.

Kicking off the season with the Donna Kennedy Cup on the international pitch at BT Murrayfield this Sunday 21 August is therefore a key early step in Begbie and coach Shade Munro’s preparations for the season.

As last year, the top players from Glasgow & Caledonia (West) and Edinburgh & The Borders (East) have been selected from clubs and the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy. Claire Cruikshank has been appointed Head Coach of East while Rory McKay is the Assistant Coach. In charge of West is Stuart Fenwick as Head Coach and Dean Kelbrick as Assistant Coach.

East will be looking to retain the Cup after being the first to lift it following their convincing 32-10 win over West last season at BT Murrayfield.

Head of Women’s and Girls’ Rugby, Sheila Begbie, said: “The Donna Kennedy Cup is a fantastic opportunity for the best players in our women’s game to come together ahead of the regular season. This match gives younger players a taste of what it’s like to compete at a higher level, while also being a good marker for the more experienced in both squads.

“We launched the Donna Kennedy Cup last year in honour of Scotland’s most capped rugby player to provide a regional, competitive fixture for the women’s game. With a number of Scotland Women and BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy players selected, this year’s edition is bound to be entertaining and exciting as regional rivalry runs high.”

Donna Kennedy retired from international rugby with 115 caps in 2010, having played in Scotland’s first ever women’s international fixture, against Ireland in 1993. The Keri Holdsworth player of the match award will again be given out in memory of the Scotland Women international, who also worked as a physiotherapist with a number of Scotland’s age-grade teams. She died at the age of 36 following a car accident in June 2014.

The BT Women’s Premier League gets underway on Sunday 4 September, with an additional two teams joining the women’s top-flight club competition. The 2016/17 season will feature Ayr Ladies and Stewartry Women after both clubs gained promotion from the BT Women’s National League Division 1.

Reigning champions Murrayfield Wanderers travel to Stirling County for their first round game, following an impressive 2015/16 season, in which they claimed the double with a Sarah Beaney Cup title. Wandies’ league rivals Hillhead Jordanhill will be on the road to newcomers Stewartry, while Ayr play host to Cartha Queen’s Park and RHC Cougars welcome Melrose to Edinburgh.

The Donna Kennedy Cup kicks off at 2pm on Sunday 21stAugust. Entry is free.

West: 15. Mairi McDonald (Hillhead/Jordanhill);  14. Andrea Gaffney (Hillhead/Jordanhill);  13. Abi Evans (Hillhead/Jordanhill);  12. Megan Gaffney (Hillhead/Jordanhill);  11. Rachel Shankland (Stirling County); 10. Catherine Shennan (Ayr);  9. Emily Irving (Ayr); 1. Siobhan McMillan (Cartha Queens Park);  2. Lana Skeldon (Hillhead/Jordanhill);  3. Heather Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill);  4. Kirsty Reid (Hillhead/Jordanhill);  5. Jenny Johnston (Hillhead/Jordanhill);  6. Louise McMillan (Hillhead/Jordanhill);  7. Hannah Telling (Hillhead/Jordanhill);  8. Jemma Forsyth (Hillhead/Jordanhill)Subsitutes: 16. Lisa Croniken (Ayr);  17. Mary Lafiki (Hillhead/Jordanhill);  18. Stella Kyalikunda (Hillhead/Jordanhill);  19. Lauren Hagan (Hillhead/Jordanhill);  20. Tamsen Tysen (Stewartry);  21. Anna Stodter (unattached);  22. Kelsey Swift (Hillhead/Jordanhill);  23. Caitlin Harvey (Caithness);  24. Aimee Watson (Hillhead/Jordanhill);  25. Rachael Mulholland (Ayr)

East:15. Chloe Rollie (Murrayfield Wanderers);  14. Harriet Cumber (Unattached);  13. Eilidh Sinclair (Murrayfield Wanderers);  12. Lisa Thomson (Edinburgh University);  11. Rhona Lloyd (Edinburgh University); 10. Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers);  9. Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers/Edinburgh University); 1. Katie Dougan (RHC Cougars/Edinburgh University);  2. Lucy Park (Murrayfield Wanderers);  3. Lisa Robertson (Murrayfield Wanderers);  4. Emma Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers);  5. Nicola Howat (Howe of Fife/ Edinburgh University);  6. Lucy Winter (Edinburgh University);  7. Charlotte Runcie (Watsonsians);  8. Karen Dunbar (RHC Cougars)Substitutes: ;  16. Suzy Hex-Rook (Murrayfield Wanderers);  17. Alisa Luke (RHC Cougars/Edinburgh University);  18. Hannah Kurtz (Edinburgh University);  19. Cat Syme (Murrayfield Wanderers);  20. Liusaidh McMaster (Edinburgh University);  21. Kelly Shields (Murrayfield Wanderers);  22. Rachel Law (Murrayfield Wanderers/Edinburgh University);  23. Louise Pullan (unattached);  24. Claire Bain (RHC Cougars);  25. Gillian Inglis (Melrose)