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Up-and-coming Scottish stars relish Lions opportunity
By Gary Heatly
The current international players who were invited to the inaugural Royal London Lions Women Engagement Day could hardly contain their excitement, so you can imagine just how excited two teenage up-and-coming talents from Scotland were when they got asked to attend.
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Skipper Rachel Malcolm was in attendance in London alongside the likes of Francesca McGhie, Emma Orr and Lisa Thomson to represent the Scots at the event in London as anticipation builds ahead of the historic opening women’s tour in 2027.
And 18-year-old back-row Emily Coubrough and 17-year-old stand-off Poppy Mellanby, who are both members of the Scottish Rugby Academy programme and hail from the same Biggar club as Orr, were there too.
Coubrough said: “To be completely honest when I first got the email [about the event] I assumed it was part of a mailing list and didn’t read it!
“However, I soon found out what I had been invited to and was, of course, very excited. I was very grateful to be selected for this experience, but was also very unsure of what to expect on the day.
“It was very surreal seeing so many players I look up to in real life. Some of the best rugby players in the world such as Ellie Kildunne were in attendance and I have been following women’s international rugby for a few years now, so to see the players I admire and watch on the TV at the same event that I was invited to was just incredible.
“This is such an exciting time to be involved in women’s rugby. I’ve seen such a change in the sport in the last few years and it only continues to grow.
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“With the Rugby World Cup just around the corner in England and the introduction of the women’s Lions the only way is up. I am so excited to be a part of the sport with all the change and growth happening.”
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Mellanby added: “It was an incredible privilege to be invited to this prestigious event.
“Having watched the men’s Lions growing up I can appreciate the history behind the tours and why they are the pinnacle of any rugby player’s career. It is so exciting that the women’s Lions is now just a few years away and I was really excited to be a part of this event.
“It was certainly a surreal moment to be in a room surrounded by talented rugby players and well-known faces.”
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As mentioned, Coubrough, who now plays for Edinburgh University in the women’s BUCS Super League and scored two tries in a 33-29 bonus point win over Exeter on Wednesday, and Mellanby, who is in her final year at Biggar High School and is playing senior club rugby, came through the ranks at Biggar with Bristol Bears and Scotland centre Emma Orr just a few years ahead of them along with Rachel Philipps (Sale Sharks) and Sarah Denholm (Trailfinders).
“It’s so inspiring to see them doing so well and it was great to see Emma at the Lions event,” Coubrough stated.
“To see girls that I used to see at school and down at the rugby club now thriving in the sport is so motivational. They are all brilliant role models not only to me but to every single girl that is progressing through the youth section at Biggar.
“It also makes my big goals feel in reach, they’ve shown that it is achievable which really inspires me to work hard.”
Mellanby added: “Having trained with them when I was younger it’s exciting to see what possibilities there are as I go through my rugby career and they are great role models.
“Biggar works so hard when it comes to girls’ and women’s rugby and coming up through the ranks has been one of the most enjoyable experiences.
“It all started in the minis where I had a really inclusive team who were incredibly supportive and I always felt entirely comfortable and confident in myself and my abilities on the pitch.
“This has been supported throughout the years by the amazing network of coaches at Biggar and the incredible training programmes they offer. It has been really special to move through the age groups with some of my closest friends and then moving into national programmes with some of the girls I’ve played with since I was 12.
“Memories of playing in the minis have stuck with me as some of my fondest as well as winning the National Youth Cup at under-16 level for the first time and it’s great to know that players like Emma, Rachel and Sarah have been on a similar path to Emily and myself.”
Coubrough, who grew up on her family farm just outside of Biggar, came to rugby a bit later than Mellanby and first played in senior one after joining Biggar High School’s ‘School of Rugby’ in conjunction with the local rugby club.
“That got me down to training at Biggar with the under-12 squad at the club and, at that stage, I just loved staying active and playing with all my friends for fun,” the applied sport science first-year student, who has played for Scotland under-18 in 2023 and 2024, recounted.
“When rugby became my priority at the start of last year I really began to love the competitiveness and complexity of the sport. There is always more to learn and the more I progress the more I understand the intricacies of it all.
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“Biggar has always been a great club to be involved in. It’s a small town and everyone knows each other so the sense of community is really nice.
“As a younger player, playing at Biggar was super enjoyable because I could go and enjoy the sport with my friends and have fun then the under-16 and 18 leagues and Cups were competitive and we loved to win.
“In October 2023 I made my debut for the Biggar senior team and when the coach Nic Humphries told me I would be starting at No.8 I was pretty nervous, but I got into things and we beat Ayr.
“Under-18 representative rugby then kind of took over, but I was able to play for the club in the National Shield final win earlier this year at Murrayfield which was great.
“Since coming to university in the summer I have had an amazing time so far playing with Edinburgh University in the BUCS Super League. The step up has been a jump, however, I am feeling comfortable in this new level and I am being pushed to improve by playing at a higher tempo and intensity.
“My biggest aim now is to take part in the Celtic Challenge this season. This would be another meaningful playing opportunity and then hopefully I can push on for under-20s honours.”
We heard how much Mellanby, who grew up in Thankerton, enjoyed the minis and she actually started playing at micros age when she was around four.
“With my mum involved in the minis coaching at Biggar I was brought along to join in training and to play with my brothers’ team,” the playmaker, who first represented Scotland Sevens under-18s just after her 16th birthday and played XVs at under-18 international level earlier this year, explained.
“I then found my team when I was old enough and have been involved with Biggar ever since.
“I’ve tried a multitude of sports and the main difference I’ve found with rugby is this incredible community surrounding it.
“At Biggar, there is this really welcoming, close-knit community where you know almost everyone and so it really does feel that you have another family in a sense.
“I think being part of a team is something so special about rugby as well, whether that’s playing for club pride or for the national team, you’re not just playing for yourself, you’re playing for something bigger.
“The incredible people I’ve met through rugby have been a huge part in making it such an enjoyable sport.
“In terms of my progress, well I was lucky enough to be signed off at 17 to be able to play senior rugby this season.
An historic day for the Lions 🦁
The first @RoyalLondon Lions Women Engagement Day with players from all Unions coming together to help shape the Tour in 2027 🙌 pic.twitter.com/GbBVPR128A
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) November 15, 2024
“I have found the challenge with Biggar seniors enjoyable and I feel my confidence is improving with regular games and the physical step up is something that has stretched me in comparison to the under-18s game.
“As a whole the team has been very welcoming and I am very grateful to have such an experienced coaching group to work with too.
“I am currently working hard at school with the aim of going to university next year, but in terms of rugby my immediate aim is to keep making progress as a player.
“I am additionally aspiring to make the Glasgow Warriors squad for the Celtic Challenge and to have a starting position in the under-18 Six Nations team.”
Biggar recently clinched the Arnold Clark Women’s West One title with Emma Orr’s sister Alison as skipper and will have a chance to make the Premiership for next term via play-offs after Christmas.
With all of that going on, what the girls have spoken about and Biggar product Donna Kennedy being inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame this week, it is no surprise that Coubrough and Mellanby are smiling.
