Eighth cap for ex-Howe Harlequins prop Molly Poolman as Scotland rack up W6N win in Wales
Former Howe Harlequins tighthead prop Molly Poolman helped new Scotland head coach Sione Fukofuka get off to a winning beginning away to Wales on Saturday in rugby’s 2026 Women’s Six Nations.
Poolman earned her eighth cap after being named in the Australian 41-year-old’s first competitive match-day squad, captained by blindside flanker Rachel Malcolm, starting on the bench and taking over from Elliann Clarke on 71 minutes as they beat the Welsh 24-19 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in front of a crowd of 10,569.
The Perth-born 21-year-old’s fellow replacements were Demi Swann, Elis Martin, Holland Bogan, Eva Donaldson, Rianna Darroch, Evie Wills and Lucia Scott.
Joining Malcolm up front were Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon, Clarke, Emma Wassell, Hollie Cunningham, Alex Stewart and Emily Coubrough.
Behind them were Chloe Rollie, Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Meryl Smith, Shona Campbell, Helen Nelson and Leia Brebner-Holden.
The Scots’ try-scorers were full-back Rollie on eight minutes, left-winger Campbell on 51 and her replacement Scott on 66, with fly-half Nelson adding three conversions and a penalty.
Touching down tries for their hosts were Kelsey Jones, Sisilia Tuipulotu and Kate Williams, with Keira Bevan and Lleucu George adding a conversion each.
Following Saturday’s away-day in Wales, Fukofuka’s squad host England on Saturday, April 18, at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium; travel to Parma to take on Italy seven days later; play France at home on Saturday, May 9; and wrap proceedings up away to Ireland in Dublin on Sunday, May 17.
The Scots go into the tournament hoping for their first finish in the top half of the table since 2005, having ended up second from bottom last year on nine points from five fixtures under Fukofuka’s predecessor, Bryan Easson.
One round in, they’re currently third, on four points, with France top and England second, both on five.
Scotland forwards coach Dave Butcher was glad to get off to a winning beginning, saying: “It was our first time out, so it’s good getting a win and that’s a bonus, but I think there’s massive room for growth, so the way we’ve attacked it this week is that there are specific areas that we really need to grow in performing in and then the outcome will be the outcome.”