17-year-old Wakefield College student selected from Scotland Women’s Rugby Team

Emily in her Scotland Rugby League kit.

Wakefield College Health and Social Care student, Emily, has been selected to join the national Scotland Rugby League Women’s team at only 17 years old.

Emily, who has Scottish heritage, has begun training with the Rugby League Performance Team for Scotland after a successful trial - making her one of the top women’s rugby league players for her age in the country, whilst giving her the opportunity to play and represent Scotland internationally.

Emily also plays for her local community club, Shaw Cross Sharks U18s in Dewsbury, where she developed her passion for the sport, and is a member of Wakefield College’s Girls’ Team.

Emily said: “I cried when I found out I had been selected for the team. It means so much to me knowing that I have my great grandparents support and I make them proud, it’s the reason I still do it. I never planned to go as far as I have with it, it was just a hobby at first. But now, it’s my escape and I want to continue playing rugby until I can’t anymore.”

Originally a swimmer, Emily was inspired to start playing rugby by her Scottish great grandparents. Her great grandma is her main inspiration, a woman who played for the first women’s rugby team which her great granddad coached.

After finding out Emily was interested in the sport, her great grandparents poured into her passion and bought her all the kit she needed, encouraging her to begin training sessions.

Emily’s grandma unfortunately passed away before her first official rugby match. After only beginning to play the sport in 2022, by her third season, Emily was already being recognised by scouts and academies. In November 2025, she suffered a broken collarbone from playing the sport, but after a successful surgery and rehabilitation, she managed to return to the fields in February this year.

Emily studies Health & Social Care at Wakefield College, which she chose because she wanted to explore careers in paediatrics and midwifery. She said: “As one of the youngest in the team, I have to balance college and rugby. My tutors at college are also understanding and helpful, so I always feel supported.”

Emily isn’t the only sports star to study at Wakefield College - former Sport student, Leon Greenwood, competed in the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics for Team GB in the 4-Man Bobsleigh team.

Leon’s time studying Sport at Wakefield College meant that he was taught by industry experts with access to state-of-the-art facilities, all of which prepared him for a career in sport. He recognises his influence over the younger generations, and he delivers motivational talks to students in which he emphasises just how important having self-belief is.

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