Late call-up Belisle to start for Scotland against England in World Cup quarter-final

Christine Belisle, a 31-year-old, 41-cap prop, will start for Scotland in Sunday’s Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against England after being a late addition to the squad amid a prop injury crisis.

Belisle, who joined the Scotland camp on Monday following injuries to Elliann Clarke and Lisa Cockburn, had been overlooked for an extended training squad in May and appeared to signal her international retirement on social media. Her most recent outing for Scotland came in the WXV2 competition in October 2023.

Scotland head coach named a reshuffled forward pack to accommodate the late inclusion, moving Evie Gallagher to open-side flanker and promoting Jade Konkel to her first World Cup start as number eight. Rachel McLachlan drops to the bench, while Molly Poolman, who replaced Cockburn after 24 minutes in Scotland’s 40-19 pool-stage defeat to Canada, returns to the replacements to provide cover at prop.

The quarter-final at Ashton Gate in Bristol kicks off at 16:00 BST on Sunday, Sept. 14, with live coverage on BBC One, Sports Extra Two and on the BBC Sport website and app.

Scotland finished as runners-up in Group B after wins over Wales and Fiji. England advanced from their pool with comfortable victories over Australia, the United States and Samoa, posting a +191 points difference heading into the knock-out stage.

Scotland named: Rollie; Lloyd, Orr, Thomson, McGhie; Nelson, Brebner-Holden; Bartlett, Skeldon, Belisle, Wassell, Bonar, Malcolm (capt), Gallagher, Konkel. Replacements: Martin, Young, Poolman, Donaldson, McLachlan, Stewart, Mattinson, Wills.

The match presents a stern test for Scotland’s makeshift front row against an England side that has dominated the group phase. The late alteration to Scotland’s squad underlines the impact of injuries on tournament preparations and sets up a high-profile Bristol showdown between the two home nations.