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Francesca McGhie

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Francesca McGhie
Born (2003-05-07) 7 May 2003 (age 23)
Edinburgh, Scotland
Height1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight73 kg (161 lb; 11 st 7 lb)
UniversityRoyal Conservatoire of Scotland
Rugby union career
Position Fullback / Wing
Current team Trailfinders Women
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019–2023 Watsonians
2023 The Thistles
2023–2025 Leicester Tigers 25 (60)
2025– Trailfinders
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2023– Scotland 26 (80)
Correct as of 26 August 2025

Francesca McGhie (born 7 May 2003, in Edinburgh) is a Scottish rugby union player, who often plays fullback or wing. She plays for Trailfinders Women in Premiership Women's Rugby as well as the Scotland national team.

Early life

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McGhie attended Loretto School in Musselburgh.[1] Her early passion was dance, specifically ballet and contemporary, and prior to taking up rugby she trained as a ballerina at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.[2] Her brother, Kyle, also plays rugby previously competing for Stirling Wolves and the Scotland under-20 rugby team.[3]

Rugby career

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Francesca McGhie started playing rugby at age fifteen playing at East Lothian and Borders Girls Club.[4] In 2019, she joined Watsonians, where she helped win the Scottish Premiership in 2022, she also assisted in lifting the Sarah Beaney Cup a season year later.[4] In 2023, McGhie played in the inaugural edition of the Celtic Challenge for Scottish side The Thistles.[5]

She is a versatile player who can play as a wing, full-back or outside-centre.[6]

Professional career

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Ahead of the 2023–24 season, McGhie signed for Leicester Tigers for their first season in the English Premiership Women's Rugby.[7] She would later describe the move as "one of the best decisions I've ever made".[8] McGhie would score six tries across fifteen appearances in her debut season with the Tigers. She would go on to make a further ten appearances in the 2024–25 season, equlling her try tally from the previous season.[6]

In June 2025, it was announced McGhie would be transferring to rival PWR side Trailfinders based in Ealing, London.[9]

Scotland national team

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Francesca McGhie received her first call-up for Scotland for the 2023 Six Nations, making her debut against England in their opening match hosted at Kingston Park, playing the full 80 minutes on the left wing.[10][11] She went on to appear in all five matches of the tournament, scoring her first international try against Ireland in a 36–10 victory.[12]

In October 2023, she was called up again to the Scotland team taking part in the inaugural WXV 2 in Cape Town, South Africa. Scotland went on to win the title undefeated, winning their ties against South Africa, USA and Japan, with McGhie starting all three tests and scoring a try against the USA.[13] Following her performances, she was nominated for the World Rugby breakthrough player of the Year Award in the same October.[14]

McGhie was retained in the Scottish squad for the 2024 and 2025 Six Nations, and 2024 WXV 2.[15][16][17]

She was later named in the national squad for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England.[18] In the opening match versus Wales in Salford, McGhie scored a hat-trick of tries and won player of the match.[19]

Honours

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Club

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Country

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References

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  1. ↑ "Lorettonian Society". ol.loretto.com. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  2. ↑ Burke, Andy (23 August 2025). "The ballerina who became Scotland's World Cup hero". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  3. ↑ "Kyle McGhie – A spark reignited with Super Series". Scottish Rugby. 26 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Francesca McGhie". Scottish Rugby. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  5. ↑ "The Thistles coaching set-up and squad confirmed ahead of Celtic Challenge competition". Scottish Rugby. 18 January 2023. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Francesca McGhie (Centre / Outside Back)". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  7. ↑ Bathgate, Stuart (30 June 2023). "Four Scotland internationals sign for Leicester Tigers". The Offside Line. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  8. ↑ "Fran McGhie lauds Leicester move as 'best decision' as Scotland wing eyes World Cup". Scotland Rugby News. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  9. ↑ Cairns, Jack (2 June 2025). "Trailfinders agree McGhie signing - Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club". Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  10. ↑ Heatly, Gary (24 January 2024). "McGhie blown away by 'surreal' year - Guinness Women's Six Nations". www.sixnationsrugby.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  11. ↑ "Francesca McGhie backed to make her mark in Six Nations opener". The Herald. 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  12. ↑ "Women's Six Nations 2023: Scotland 36-10 Ireland - Scots finish with back-to-back wins". BBC Sport. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  13. ↑ "WXV tournament: Scotland win WXV2 title as Ireland crowned WXV3 champions after beating Spain". Sky Sports. 28 October 2023. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  14. ↑ "Scotland's Francesca McGhie nominated for World Rugby breakthrough player award". BBC Sport. 2 November 2023. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  15. ↑ Gould, Caitlin (19 February 2025). "Scotland squad announced for 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations". Scottish Rugby. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  16. ↑ "Scotland squad named for WXV 2 competition". Scottish Rugby. 27 August 2024. Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  17. ↑ "Scotland Women's Six Nations squad 2024 - Smith in at 15". Rugby World. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  18. ↑ "Scotland squad named for Women's Rugby World Cup 2025". Scottish Rugby Union. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  19. ↑ "Women's World Cup results: Scotland 38-8 Wales - Six-try show of solidarity stuns Wales". BBC Sport. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
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