Penicuik's Sarah Law makes rugby return in Scotland v Wales Six Nations

Penicuik’s Sarah Law made it nine in a row when she turned out for Scotland in last weekend’s Women’s Six Nations clash with Italy.
Sarah Law during the warm-up before Scotland's Six Nations match with Italy (pic: INPHO/Craig Watson)Sarah Law during the warm-up before Scotland's Six Nations match with Italy (pic: INPHO/Craig Watson)
Sarah Law during the warm-up before Scotland's Six Nations match with Italy (pic: INPHO/Craig Watson)

It’s the ninth successive year that the former Penicuik High School pupil has been part of Scotland’s Six Nations squad.

Remarkably it was her first game of rugby of any kind for 432 days. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a happy return for the 26-year-old, though, as the Scots went down 41-20 to Italy at Scotstoun in Glasgow.

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That means Scotland, having already lost to England, finished bottom of their three-team pool.

They will now play off for fifth place this Saturday against Wales, who finished bottom of the other pool including France and Ireland.

Sarah started playing rugby in the mini section at Penicuik Rugby Club when she was taken along by her dad Andy, then a player and now the club president.

She made her Scotland debut against England in 2013 and now has 43 caps, her most notable achievement coming in 2017 when she held her nerve and dramatically kicked a late penalty to seal a 15-14 win over Wales at Broadwood.

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A lack of competitive women’s rugby in Scotland has made it difficult for Sarah to prepare for international rugby with the current situation made even more complicated by Covid restrictions.

“Sarah has played rugby since she was five or six and came through our minis and then moved on because we didn't have a girls’ team,” explained Andy.

“It's something I've tried to do several times, but it's a real struggle.

“Because there is no real competitive rugby in Scotland for women, most of them have to go and play in the English Premiership. Some of them are paid and others aren't.

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“Sarah was supposed to be playing for Darlington but couldn’t because of Covid restrictions and a few other things.

“Because she’s amateur, she wasn’t allowed to travel to train, so last weekend’s match was her first game of any kind for 432 days.”

Sarah’s younger sister Rachel, 22, was also called up to Scotland’s Six Nations squad last year but had to be content with a place on the bench and is currently out of action after undergoing knee surgery.

Saturday’s game at Scotstoun kicks off at 5pm.