Lynne Reid describes her appointment as Scotland’s new women’s rugby captain as “a massive honour,” and the talented flanker is determined to add to her feelings of pride by leading Scotland along the path to even greater glory.

With Jilly McCord currently sidelined through injury, Lynne took over the skipper’s armband prior to the friendly international against Sweden at Meggetland in January.

“The Swedish match was a great warm-up before the start of the Six Nations in February,” said Reid. “There has been quite a lot of rebuilding to the squad and we have all worked very hard over the last few months.

“The Six Nations is especially important this year as the top four teams will automatically qualify for next year’s World Cup in England. We’re determined to make it.”

Hockey was Lynne’s first sporting love, and she played for the East of Scotland during her schooldays at Inverkeithing High School. She had tinkered with rugby, but only started to take it really seriously when she moved south to study for a degree in physical education at University in Liverpool.

“I really became committed to the game and I joined Edinburgh Accies when I moved back to Scotland in 2001,” she continued. “The club has now merged to become Royal High Corstorphine.”

Originally a prop, Lynne gained her first cap against Wales on St Valentine’s Day in 2004 – and her love affair with the oval ball sport was well and truly cemented.

“Scottish women’s rugby has really moved on during my time, and especially so over the past few years,” she is delighted to report. “We now have much more support from the SRU and our physical preparation and our strength and conditioning have improved beyond recognition. It is brilliant to get to work more closely with the men, and have their backing.

”Jamie Dempsey has been a great coach to the Scottish women’s team and we’ve also benefitted from the input from Hugh Campbell since he came on board last season.”
 
While England and France now have professional women rugby players, it is still very much an amateur sport north of the border and Lynne has to combine the almost daily, and very punishing technical and fitness sessions with a demanding, if highly rewarding, job as a care manager at the Harmeny School in Balerno.

“It is a charitable school for children with emotional problems and I absolutely love my work,” said the 32-year-old. “But it is tough when you have to mix a career with the demands of playing sport at international level.

“We don’t receive any funding and all the international players have to rely on having very understanding colleagues. Mine are great and allow me time away for rugby.

“You also have to make a lot of sacrifices as regards friends and family. You can’t always fit in with everyone else and do the things you might want to.”

But she reckons that having to forego the odd party is well worth it, and she knows that all those close to her will be immensely proud when she leads out her country over the next few weeks. As she points out, Scottish women’s rugby is on a rapid rise, and she is delighted that she can play a part.

EB
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