Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025: Francesca McGhie – the ballerina who became Scotland’s hero

Rugby was not McGhie’s first love.

Dancing was her passion, and her talents as a ballet and contemporary dancer earned her a place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

That nimble footwork would serve her well in her ultimate calling as a rugby player, but it was not until 2018 that she took up the game as a 15-year-old.

She joined Watsonians the following year and helped the club to the Premiership title in 2023.

She received her first Scotland call-up that same year, announcing herself in the Test arena with a stunning solo try in the victory over Ireland, which led to a nomination for World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year award.

McGhie has proved herself to be a player for the big occasion.

She came up with a last-gasp match-winning try against Ireland in this year’s Six Nations, and her hat-trick against Wales took her international try-scoring record to 13 in 23 games.

“When you put Fran McGhie in space, my God, what a finisher,” Scotland head coach Bryan Easson told BBC Scotland after Saturday’s win.

“I’d said to her this morning she’ll get a couple of scores, but I said to her at half-time, ‘come on, that’s not enough’.

“One-on-one, I don’t think there’s anybody better in the world. She’s a world-class finisher without a doubt.”