News & Features Edinburgh Rugby Women Celtic Challenge

Mathieson in line for first capital start

27 Feb 2026

18-year-old full-back Bethan Mathieson makes her first Edinburgh start as the capital welcome the Irish Clovers to Hive Stadium tomorrow afternoon (28 February, 1pm kick-off) – live on YouTube.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - JANAURY 31: The Edinburgh team huddle at full time during a Celtic Challenge match between Edinburgh Women and Brython Thunder at the Hive Stadium, on January 31, 2026, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)

The Heriot’s flyer comes into the side as one of two changes to the capital starting side, with centre Lisa Brown also moving from the bench to start.

Edinburgh will be celebrating the grassroots game in their final home match of the 25/26 Celtic Challenge, with all players wearing the socks of their hometown clubs for the fixture.

On the match, Head Coach Claire Cruikshank said: “We want to finish the campaign on a high, starting in front of another big crowd at Hive Stadium. The support for the team has been amazing, and we want to give everyone something to cheer for tomorrow.

“There were parts of our performance last week that we were proud of, but the Clovers showed how clinical they can be, scoring four when we switched off. We’re looking forward to getting stuck into them again this week to improve on last week’s result.”

Mathieson is the sole change in the back-three, with captain Hannah Walker and Cieron Bell once again on the wings.

Brown comes into the midfield alongside Hannah Ramsay, with an unchanged half-back partnership of scrum-half Emily Love and stand-off Nicole Marlow completing the back line.

The pack is unchanged, with Amy Henwood at hooker alongside prop duo of Alison Wilson and Molly Poolman. The capital engine room remains unchanged, as it has done in every game this campaign, with Adelle Ferrie and Natasha Logan starting together.

In the back row, Alex Stewart starts at openside flanker, alongside blindside Lauryn McGrotty and number-eight Catriona Moody.

Edinburgh Rugby side to face Clovers at Hive Stadium (Saturday 28 February, 1pm kick-off) – live on YouTube.

15.⁠ ⁠Bethan Mathieson | Dunfermline RFC

14.⁠ ⁠Cieron Bell | Cumnock RFC
13.⁠ ⁠Lisa Brown | Biggar RFC
12.⁠ ⁠Hannah Ramsay | Livingston RFC
11.⁠ ⁠Hannah Walker | Community School of Auchterader

10.⁠ ⁠Nicole Marlow | Flying Kukris RFC
9.⁠ ⁠Emily Love | Melrose RFC

Replacements