Scotland Women Under 21s walk into The Hive on Sunday with bruised pride and a burning point to prove. Fresh off a brutal 113-0 loss to France, Louise Dalgliesh’s young side host Italy in the final round of the Six Nations Women’s U21 Series. Both teams are still chasing a first win, and the kick-off at 1pm promises raw emotion, fresh faces, and a battle no one wants to lose.
Wounded Scots Eye Redemption Against Italy
The numbers from last weekend in France were impossible to sugarcoat. Scotland conceded 17 tries in Bordeaux and walked away with zero on the board.
Now, with seven changes to the starting XV, Dalgliesh is asking her players to flip the script in front of their home crowd.
Italy arrive in Edinburgh after their own heartbreak. The Azzurrine fell 33-29 to Wales at home in Piacenza in a nine-try thriller, missing the bonus point by a single score.
That narrow defeat means the Italians are battle-hardened and dangerous. Scotland know this is no soft landing.
Dalgliesh Speaks Out After French Mauling
The Scotland head coach did not duck the difficult conversation this week. She spoke openly about the gap between the programmes and the harsh lessons her squad has had to swallow.
“We can’t hide from the score line last week. France were relentless on the day and it probably does reflect the chasm between the programmes at this level at the moment. As a group we have taken some harsh lessons from that and we don’t have any choice but to improve and move forward.”
Dalgliesh also flagged the physical battle to come. She expects Italy to bring the same high-tempo attacking style that almost toppled Wales.
The mood inside the camp, by all accounts, is one of quiet determination. The players want to remind everyone what this group can actually do.
Fresh Faces and Big Calls in the Scotland XV
Megan Hyland keeps the captain’s armband at hooker. Lucy MacRae and Catriona Moody have been named vice-captains, signalling a leadership reset across the spine of the team.
Ceitidh Ainsworth slots in at scrum-half alongside fly-half Poppy Mellanby. Freya MacColl returns at full-back, with Scarlett Haddow and Nicole Flynn drafted into a refreshed backline.
Up front, the back row has been ripped up and rebuilt. Scarlett Down, Isobel Twigger and Catriona Moody form a brand new combination, while Aisla Merryweather earns her first start in the second row.
Off the bench, full international Rianna Darroch is the headline name. Her cap experience could prove decisive in the closing quarter.
Scotland Starting XV
| Number | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Freya MacColl | Full-back |
| 14 | Scarlett Haddow | Wing |
| 13 | Nicole Flynn | Centre |
| 12 | Lucy MacRae | Centre |
| 11 | Lisa Brown | Wing |
| 10 | Poppy Mellanby | Fly-half |
| 9 | Ceitidh Ainsworth | Scrum-half |
| 1 | Poppy Fletcher | Prop |
| 2 | Megan Hyland (c) | Hooker |
| 3 | Imogen Spence | Prop |
| 4 | Aisla Merryweather | Lock |
| 5 | Gemma Thomson | Lock |
| 6 | Scarlett Down | Flanker |
| 7 | Isobel Twigger | Flanker |
| 8 | Catriona Moody | Number 8 |
Replacements: Aila Ronald, Talei Tawake, Faye Sutherland, Charlotte Russell, Merryn Gunderson, Rianna Darroch, Hannah Ramsay, Emily Love.
Tournament Picture and How to Watch
Both Scotland and Italy sit at the bottom of the U21 Series table after two rounds. France and Ireland lead the way unbeaten, with England and Wales trading wins in the middle of the pack.
That makes Sunday’s encounter a true wooden spoon decider, and a chance for one squad to walk away with belief heading into the summer.
- Fixture: Scotland Women U21 v Italy Women U21
- Venue: The Hive, Edinburgh
- Kick-off: Sunday, 1pm BST
- Live stream: U6N official YouTube channel (free)
This new home and away U21 format replaced the old festival style this season. It means more meaningful international minutes for the next generation of Test stars, played in real stadiums in front of real crowds.
For families travelling to Edinburgh, The Hive offers a tight, atmospheric setting where every tackle and chant carries. Get there early and the warm-up alone is worth the trip.
Why This Match Matters Beyond the Score
For these players, this is more than a development fixture. Many of them are knocking on the door of senior selection, and a strong 80 minutes against Italy could change a career path.
Scotland’s pathway has produced full caps like Rianna Darroch already, and the union sees this group as a key part of the road to the next World Cup cycle. A win on home soil would be a huge psychological boost.
Italy, meanwhile, want to prove that their near-miss against Wales was no fluke. Their attacking shape has caught the eye, and another 30-point performance could leave them as the surprise package of the series.
Sunday at The Hive is a story about two young teams refusing to let a tough campaign define them. It is about resilience, second chances, and the quiet courage it takes to stand up after a heavy defeat. Whatever the score, these players will leave a piece of themselves on that pitch, and Scottish supporters should be ready to roar them home. Will Scotland finally get their first win of the series, or will Italy spoil the home party? Drop your prediction in the comments and share your support using #WU21SixNations across X and Instagram.
