POSITION: Flanker
HEIGHT: 160cm
WEIGHT: 67kg
DATE OF BIRTH: 06/07/1995
SENIOR CLUB: Sunnybank
HIGH SCHOOL: Community School of Auchterarder, Scotland
SUPER W DEBUT: 2019, v Rebels
SUPER W CAPS: 1
SUPER W POINTS: 0
How are you feeling ahead of Queensland’s first Super W home game for 2019?
I’m really excited, and naturally a bit nervous, to get going, but we’ve put in a lot of effort at training and we are continuing to build each week. I can’t wait to see how our hard work transfers onto the field.
What do you bring to the side and what can we expect from you as a player? what do you expect of yourself?
I think one of my strengths is just sheer, dogged determination. As a player in attack I’m very evasive and in defence I’ll always look for the opportunity to jackal if the chance arises. I enjoy working hard for my teammates and making sure I have their backs whenever possible, so a high work rate is definitely something I expect of myself.
What does playing for Queensland in Super W mean for you?
Being a part of the Queensland squad has given me the opportunity to challenge and better myself every time we train. I am inspired and motivated by my teammates every session and to run on alongside such high-quality players in a Queensland jersey is a huge achievement.
How was the recent Super W camp and what did you learn?
It was a great experience. We had our phones removed and it was just a brilliant opportunity to enjoy each other’s company. Especially with being relatively new to Queensland, I learnt a bit more about each squad member and what they bring outside of a rugby environment. I feel extremely lucky and grateful to be a part of this Queensland family.
What can you tell us about some of the players in the Queensland side?
Everyone in the squad brings different aspects of danger to the opposition. We have some terrific ball runners in the pack to get the go forward and definitely have the speed and skill in the backline to finish it off. I think this Queensland side has some deadly combinations and will be a force to be reckoned with in this year’s competition.
What initially drew you to Rugby? What has kept you in the sport as opposed to taking a different path?
I had a fantastic teacher come into my high school and set up a girls u15/u18 Rugby team. Being a small school, the majority of girls in my year and above signed up and we ended up having a lot of success. I actually stopped playing once leaving school as it was never something I intended on carrying on but lucky I came to my senses halfway through university and started playing again. It’s hard to explain what keeps me playing Rugby, I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but it’s really unlike any other team sport environment. It’s a beautifully inclusive sport, anyone can participate in and you will always find a family in any team you play with.
How do you find being a female athlete in 2019 as opposed to when you first started playing in 2015?
I think the biggest change has been in the level of respect which is now given to female athletes and the understanding of what it takes to compete at a high level, especially when it comes to juggling sport and a full-time job. The support of governing bodies, coaches and sponsors has also grown year on year. The interest levels the general public has in women’s Rugby seems to be growing throughout the world, and people are genuinely interested to hear about your journey and how you’ve progressed to where you are now.
Who is your biggest inspiration in Rugby?
I think at the moment that has to go to Doddie Weir, a former Scottish international lock who has done many inspiring things on and off the field. My first encounter with him was during my school Rugby tour fundraiser dinner when he wore one of his famous tartan suits and made time to speak to everyone. Since being unfortunately diagnosed with motor neuron disease he has unselfishly raised huge awareness of disease and set up the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation to raise funds to aid research.
What has brought you to Australia and what is the difference between Scottish Rugby and Australian Rugby?
Initially it was the Aon University 7s that caught my attention. There’s no club Sevens set up in Scotland and so when I saw there was an opportunity to play Sevens for such a concentrated amount of time I just had to get involved. The style of the two countries is slightly different in the sense of what skills and abilities are more desirable, each has their own merits. I think due to weather back home (with XVs being played in winter), you have to have a different tactical approach to the game, and to cope with the heat in Queensland you definitely need to make sure you’re on top of your fitness.
