Jilly McCord has been involved in women's rugby for 13 years. As the new Captain of the Scottish team, she hopes that more than a little luck is going to come her way in 2008.

A member of the Royal High Club, the second row forward will be leading the team for the first time in the Six Nations - a Championship that is as fiercely contested and just as coveted as the male version. It's just that the men get slightly more media attention.

Jilly is realistic about Scotland's chance of success. "England and France are always very strong and the rest of us are much of a muchness," she said. "We finished fifth last year but, hopefully, can do better in this campaign.

"A lot of our players retired after the 2006 World Cup in Canada, but this is an exciting young squad with a lot of talent. This could be the start of a new era."

Jilly first took up the oval ball game as a 17-year-old in her final year at school in Langholm in the Borders. Bitten by the bug, she became a little more serious when she moved to Edinburgh for her university studies.

She now lives in Linlithgow, teaches history at Dollar Academy and gladly fits in a punishing rugby schedule in the Scottish capital. "We have club games every Sunday and then there are three night sessions of training every week," she explained.

"I do something that is rugby related at least once or twice every day. It is tough, but I love it."

During her period in the sport she admits that the women's game has "come on massively", and she is delighted that pioneers such as Donna Kennedy - who earned 100 caps - and Paula Chalmers - sister of Scottish legend Craig - are now piling their experience back into the game.

"There was hardly any interest when I was at school, but the women's sport is growing all the time," she said. "At club level in Scotland, we have four divisions of eight teams and there is a great age-group programme. A lot of schools also include it in the programme.

"There is a Scottish Academy for under-18s, and Donna and Paula are heavily involved in the development of the game. It's good to have two such high profile players - they've been there and done it and all the youngsters really look up to them."

For all the current Scottish squad, it is the lure of the 2010 World Cup that eases the pain of the punishing training stints. The Six Nations will provide a thermometer of the rate of progress.

First up for the Scots is France at Meggetland at noon on Sunday, February 3 - and they hope to produce the result that could inspire the men at Murrayfield three hours later.

"Unfortunately, we won't be going to Murrayfield. But both the teams will be watching on television as part of the after-match social get together," said Jilly. She hopes it is the Scots that are able to raise a glass to a victory double.

EB
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