Coubrough to make Scotland debut against Wales

Glasgow Warriors back row Emily Coubrough will make her Scotland debut in Saturday's Six Nations opener against Wales at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

Coubrough, 19, is one of four uncapped players in the squad for head coach Sione Fukofuka's first match in charge, with prop Demi Swann, second row Holland Bogan and scrum-half Rianna Darroch among the replacements.

Scotland reached the quarter-finals of last year's World Cup, but have gone through a period of transition with Caity Mattinson, Lisa Cockburn and Jade Konkel all retiring after the tournament.

Fukofuka is also unable to call upon key players Anne Young, Sarah Bonar, Evie Gallagher, Lisa Thomson and Fran McGhie, who are all injured.

Former USA coach Fukofuka has been impressed by Coubrough's physicality and reckons the teenager will benefit from playing alongside captain Rachel Malcolm.

"She's come in and really thrown herself into that collision space in particular," he explained. "We saw a lot of potential and we felt that with a little bit of guidance, a little bit of structure around her, there's an opportunity to allow her to play her natural game.

"The fact that Rachel Malcolm is right next to her is a big plus to that. Rachel spent the last week and a bit really working with her, giving her knowledge, but also the confidence to just go out there and play."

Prop Leah Bartlett will make her 50th Scotland appearance, partnered by Elliann Clarke and experienced hooker Lana Skeldon in the front row.

Hollie Cunningham - who missed the World Cup through injury - joins Emma Wassell in the second row, while Alex Stewart joins Malcolm and Coubrough in the back row.

Leia Brebner-Holden starts at scrum-half with Helen Nelson outside her as Meryl Smith and Emma Orr form a formidable centre partnership.

There is a first cap since 2022 for wing Shona Campbell, who joins Rhona Lloyd and Chloe Rollie in the back three.

Fukofuka has gone with a five-three split of forwards and backs on the bench.

Scotland: Rollie, Lloyd, Orr, Smith, Campbell, Nelson, Brebner-Holden; Bartlett, Skeldon, Clarke, Wassell, Cunningham, Malcolm, Stewart, Coubrough.

Replacements: Martin, Swann, Poolman, Bogan, Donaldson, Darroch, Wills, Scott.