Scotland head coach Bryan Easson has named four uncapped players in his 30-strong squad that will head to South Africa and aim to defend the WXV 2 title next month. 

Hooker Aila Ronald, scrum-half Leia Brebner-Holden and backs Rachel Philipps and Lucia Scott have all earned their place in the squad. 

Experienced lock Louise McMillan misses out, as does scrum-half Jenny Maxwell - with Easson confirming those were not injury-related decisions. 

Here are five talking points from the squad announcement. 

1. Louise McMillan a surprise omission

The Saracens forward, who has won 53 caps for Scotland, has been a mainstay in squads during Easson's time in charge, and he confirmed she is fit and available. 

The Scotland coach said it was the toughest decision of his 30-strong group. 

He added: "That was probably the longest selection conversation I've been involved in with this group and that is testament to the group we're growing.

"For the first time ever we've sat down with five second rows and looked at them as second rows, not locks who can play back-row.

"We looked long and hard and at this moment in time we felt that was the selection we wanted to go with."

2. Jenny Maxwell's lack of games counted against her

It has been a long road back for the scrum-half, who injured her knee on international duty against Italy in March 2022. 

She made her comeback in the Celtic Challenge for Edinburgh earlier this year, but Easson said ultimately a lack of game-time saw her miss out. 

"It was tough not to select her but for me just to see her come back after the amount of time she's had out was brilliant," the Scotland coach said. 

"What she needs to work on is that match sharpness. She wasn't as sharp as you'd probably expect Jenny Maxwell to be but that's because she's not played, except a couple of halves in Celtic Challenge. 

When I spoke to Jenny she was obviously disappointed but she was also pleased she managed to get those four weeks [training] under her belt."

3. Meryl Smith's long-term future is at fly-half

Meryl Smith has played at inside centre and fullback for Scotland, while also covering fly-half, but it is in the latter role Easson believes she has a long-term future. 

He said newcomer Lucia Scott will compete with Chloe Rollie at fullback, while Rachel Philipps will compete with Lisa Thomson in the midfield, although Smith can give Scotland a different option there. 

"I think she will be a long-term 10," Easson said.

"She plays at 100 miles an hour so it is about game management for her but you could play her at 12 as a second distributor and that for me opens up the back three.

"If you look at the back three with Fran, with Rhona, with Coreen, with Lucia, with Chloe and then Emma Orr at 13 that is quite a potent group and we need to get them the ball and Meryl can just open that up a bit."

4. Rhona Lloyd has responded well to Olympics disappointment

The winger missed out on the Team GB squad for Paris, but has bounced back well after returning to training last week. 

Easson added: "Her goal was to reach the Olympics and is was hard for her so it has been about listening and I think we all know Rhona well enough to know that she is such a good person and a strong individual it didn’t take her much to get back into it.

"She loves this group and we love having her around so it is just getting her up to speed."

5. Aila Ronald has impressed

With Molly Wright out injured for the forseeable and Nikki Simpson not involved in this squad, Easson has turned to 19-year-old University of Edinburgh product Ronald to compete with Lana Skeldon and Elis Martin

"She is one that really does excite me," Easson said.  

"She is physical, her training has been excellent, she is coachable and she really is just soaking everything up.

"And for a young hooker you can imagine how good it is to come in and work with Fraser Brown while senior hookers like Lana and Elis have put their arms round her and are helping her. They are all pushing each other on."

Scotland squad for WXV

Forwards

Leah Bartlett, Christine Belisle, Sarah Bonar, Elliann Clarke, Lisa Cockburn, Eva Donaldson, Evie Gallagher, Jade Konkel, Rachel Malcolm, Elis Martin, Fiona McIntosh, Rachel McLachlan, Lana Skeldon, Aila Ronald, Alex Stewart, 
Emma Wassell, Anne Young

Backs

Leia Brebner-Holden, Coreen Grant, Caity Mattinson, Mairi McDonald, 
Francesca McGhie, Rhona Lloyd, Helen Nelson, Emma Orr, Rachel Philipps, Lisa Thomson, Chloe Rollie, Lucia Scott, Meryl Smith