Lana Skeldon admits it is “a dream come true” to now be involved in the sport she loves full-time - and she and her WFC Ladies team mates are excited for the season to start this weekend.
Recently Lana, a 24-year-old hooker, was named as one of eight contracted female players by Scottish Rugby.
The new deals - known as ‘2021 contracts’ - are to provide players with financial support to facilitate training and playing with the aim of securing qualification for the Rugby World Cup in 2021.
The WFC Ladies Tennent’s Women’s Premier League campaign starts on Sunday with a home match against Corstorphine Cougars (2pm).
And, after reaching the Sarah Beaney Cup final at BT Murrayfield and winning the Development Cup last term, coaches Dave Flynn, Scott Nightingale and all the players are excited about the next few months.
“I have loved my time at Watsonians so far,” Lana, who will be vice-captain this time around, said.
“When I joined the club last year everyone was so welcoming to me and I felt like I fitted in straight away.
“The standard of the squad really impressed me, we are well coached and everyone works hard at training."
“We got off to a bit of a slow start last season which ultimately saw us finish in the bottom half after the league split, but two cup finals and one trophy showed us what we can do.
“Now we want to kick on from the solid foundations we have built.
“As for my contract with Scottish Rugby, I am so grateful for the opportunity and I am really excited to be able to train full-time.
“When I was a youngster growing up in Hawick I never could have imagined this opportunity would ever come.
“I am now ready to put everything into it and continue to make my family proud because they have supported me all of the way.
“As soon as I started playing rugby in the minis at Hawick I just loved the game.
“With eight of the Scotland team now contracted and a few others playing at a high level in England I think we have a really good core of a squad going forward."
By Gary Heatly
