Lana Skeldon openly admits that she never imagined during her rugby career that she would one day play a standalone fixture for Scotland in front of nearly 30,000 passionate supporters at the iconic Murrayfield Stadium. Yet, that long-awaited day has finally arrived, and as the Women's Six Nations clash with world champions England in Edinburgh approaches, the veteran hooker can scarcely contain her overwhelming excitement and pride.
A Career Milestone and Historic Caps Record
The Hawick-raised forward, who is Scotland's most experienced player, is set to earn her 86th international cap in this highly anticipated contest. This achievement will place her level with Karen Findlay in third position on Scotland women's all-time caps list, a testament to her enduring dedication and skill. Only Donna Kennedy, with 115 caps, and Heather Lockhart, with 89, have represented Scotland more times on the rugby field.
When Skeldon's international journey began back in 2011, such grand occasions seemed like a distant pipe dream. Her debut came at a modest club ground in Amsterdam in late 2011, just after she had turned 18, with only a small crowd in attendance. Scotland secured a 33-10 victory over the Netherlands that day, but Skeldon then faced a three-year wait until her second cap arrived in a 45-5 loss to Italy during the 2014 Six Nations, a match also held at a club ground in Rome.
From Humble Beginnings to Packed Stadiums
Her first home cap followed soon after in a 69-0 defeat to France, with the game taking place at Lasswade's Hawthornden ground in Bonnyrigg. No official attendance figure was recorded, but it is estimated to have been a few hundred spectators at most. Reflecting on those early days, the now 32-year-old recounts, "My first home venue with Scotland was Lasswade. When we were at Lasswade it was never like 'Whoa, there's a big crowd here'. The supporters were loud, don't get me wrong, but the banking on the far side, for instance, wasn't full even if the one small stand that is there was."
She continues with palpable emotion, "To come from that to then being in front of 30,000 people, it's actually quite mesmerising, to be honest. It's quite hard to digest at times, but obviously I'm just absolutely buzzing. I didn't think in my time of playing a game and an occasion like the one we are getting ready for would ever happen. Don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely buzzing that I'm still playing at the top level when this chance has come around, but I thought we'd have more likely seen it in five years' time or something."
Skeldon expresses deep gratitude, adding, "I'm obviously so grateful to be part of it and it just shows how rapidly the women's game in Scotland and throughout the world has grown." This growth has taken her pleasantly by surprise, marking a significant shift from the grassroots venues of her early career.
England's Dominance and Scotland's Aspirations
England arrive in the Scottish capital fresh from a 33-12 victory over Ireland in the opening round of the Six Nations at Twickenham, a match that set a tournament crowd record of 77,120 spectators. Last September, the same stadium hosted a sold-out crowd of 81,885 for the Women's Rugby World Cup final, where England triumphed over Canada. This context underscores the rising popularity and competitive intensity of women's rugby.
Looking ahead, Skeldon is asked if she can ever envisage Scotland's women filling Murrayfield's full capacity of 67,144 seats. She responds with optimism, "I'd love it if that did happen. I think the way the game's growing, I don't see why not. I'll try and hang on for that, but, yeah, I think in the next three or four years, I can see it happening."
Historically, the women's national team has played eight games at Murrayfield. The first seven were double headers alongside men's fixtures, while the most recent—against England—was a standalone match played behind closed doors due to Storm Ciara rendering Scotstoun unplayable. On the pitch, England have maintained a formidable record, not losing to Scotland since 1999 and securing 28 consecutive victories. Out of 33 meetings since their first encounter in 1994, England have won 31, with Scotland claiming just two wins.
A Relentless Challenge and a Spectacle to Behold
England are currently pursuing their 35th consecutive Test win, adding pressure to the upcoming clash. Skeldon, who played 71 minutes in Scotland's opening 24-19 win over Wales in Cardiff last week, acknowledges the challenge, stating, "It is just relentless when you play England, they are so powerful, but we want to show everyone just how much we have grown."
As a Bristol Bears star who also featured in last year's World Cup quarter-final loss to England, Skeldon concludes with confidence, "It's going to be quite a spectacle." This match not only represents a personal milestone for her but also symbolizes the broader evolution and increasing prominence of women's rugby on the global stage.
