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Lana Skeldon: How her Bristol team mates ensured a Six Nations return
By Gary Heatly
Scotland hooker Lana Skeldon has thanked three of her best friends in rugby for their “endless support, care and kindness” shown during her recent four-month injury lay-off that helped her to get back fit and firing in time for the ongoing Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
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If you ask members of the Scotland squad ‘who is the hardest worker in training and who sets the standards?’ the answer you will most often get back is Skeldon.
The hooker, now 31, made her debut for her country having just turned 18 back in November 2011 in a 33-10 victory over the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
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Cap number two did not come until 2014, but since then she has been a key part of the ever-evolving squad and has lived through all of the highs and lows that have come Scotland’s way to get them to the point which they are at now.
This Sunday, all being well, Skeldon will earn her 77th cap for her country when Italy visit Hive Stadium in Edinburgh in round three of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
That will put her joint equal fourth in Scotland women’s all-time caps list alongside Lee Cockburn and Paula Chalmers and behind only Karen Findlay on 86, Heather Lockhart on 89 and Donna Kennedy on 115.
However, at one stage her involvement in at least part of the 2025 Six Nations was looking in serious doubt.
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Given she is such a big part of what Scotland do there were nerves among national team supporters in late November last year when they heard that she had torn her calf while with club side Bristol Bears down south.
In January, recently departed Bears head coach Dave Ward suggested that Skeldon was on track to make it back for Scotland’s second Six Nations game in France on March 29th, but that “knowing her character she will be determined to make it back for the first game”.
And that character shone through as Skeldon rehabbed diligently and was named in the Scotland starting XV that took on Wales at the Hive on the opening weekend.
The player’s hard work must be acknowledged, but she admits she could not have done it alone and wants to thank three players for the part they played in her recovery.
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“Throughout my rehab I was very fortunate to be surrounded by the best people who I am extremely grateful for,” Skeldon, who is fifth on the Scotland women’s all-time try scorers list with 18 and also used to kick at goal, stated.
“Amber Reed, Evie Gallagher and Emma Orr provided endless support, care and kindness during my time out and words will never do it justice.
“They really showed up for me when I needed them the most and they are a significant reason why I managed to get back in time for the Six Nations. Without them I just don’t think I could have done it.
“Heading into the Six Nations I had been out for a long spell with the torn calf so I was absolutely delighted to make it back in time to play in that opening fixture.
“I wasn’t expecting to play given how long I had missed with Bristol so when I got news of the team selection for Wales through and saw that I was starting at hooker I was shocked and emotional, but extremely happy.
“After playing in the Wales game I felt good. I was slightly nervous coming back into training with Scotland a few weeks before the tournament as I wanting to be back to my usual self straight away and I definitely had some cobwebs to get rid of, but now I feel like I am right back to where I want to be.
“There has been a lot to reflect on after two rounds, but, ultimately, we are putting in some great performances with some small details to tighten up on. If we can tighten up on these bits and just be a bit more clinical then we are confident good results and performances will come in the next three games.”
In 2022, Skeldon got a tattoo of a feather which signifies that people that have passed away will always be near and, in a way, that loving thought and gesture just typifies her attitude and why she is so well respected within the rugby community.
You see, it has never been about her, everything she does on and off the rugby pitch is for her family, for her friends, for her team mates and for her country.
Skeldon sees the wider picture and knows that if she does her job in the set piece and around the pitch then it will contribute to something bigger.
During her week off she went for walks on the beach, went to the golf driving range and generally “reset the batteries” ahead of a busy few weeks coming up with games against England and Ireland following the Italian test.
Scotland have beaten Italy the last three times they have played in all competitions and the first of those, in the Six Nations in 2023, brings back good memories as victory at the Hive ended a 12-match losing run and started a run of 13 wins in 18 Tests which is ongoing.
“We want to give the home crowd something to cheer about on Sunday when we take on Italy and we have had some good results against them in recent times, but they are always tough opponents.
“I love playing at the Hive, there is always such a brilliant atmosphere there. The crowd is always right behind us and the support is incredible.
“Nothing quite beats being at home and we have to make that home advantage count on Sunday as we look to build momentum into rounds four and five.”
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