Five Edinburgh club players are listed in Scotland’s women’s squad for a double-header in Ireland against Belgium and the hosts as they continue their build-up to the World Cup qualifiers in Chile in February.
The double-header in Dublin will be tough as the opposing teams are above the Tartan Hearts in the world rankings.
Belgium are third behind top rated The Netherlands and Argentina while Ireland are at No 13, one place above Scotland.
Chris Duncan, Scotland’s head coach, said: “Following a year of two really pleasing tournament performances in the Nations Cup and EuroHockey Championship, we are excited to be getting back into competitive action, with games against two excellent Pro League teams.
“These games come at a brilliant to give us a benchmark of where we need to apply focus in the run in to an amazing opportunity to qualify for the World Cup in 2026.”
For the record, Scotland earned a fifth place finish at Nations Cup in Chile, and were sixth at the EuroHockey Championship in Monchengladbach.
Looking back, Duncan, who is based in West Lothian, said recent competitive displays have seen gains and he added: “We are hopeful to see some of those developments in games against Belgium and Ireland, both of whom were in our group in (the EuroHockey Championships) Germany.”
The up-coming games have focused minds for the last two months and he said: “The squad are raring to go.”
Five of the squad are from Edinburgh clubs, two from The University of Edinburgh, and three from Watsonians, and only one member of the travelling party, Heather McEwan, who plays in Belgium, is based outwith the British Isles.
Sarah Robertson, Borders-born and a former The University of Edinburgh player, captains the side with Amy Costello and Sarah Jamieson as vice-captains.
Scotland: Amber Murray (Olton and West Warwickshire), Amy Costello (Surbiton), Ava Findlay, Katie Birch (Durham University), Bronwyn Shields, Jennifer Eadie, Millie Steiger (Clydesdale Western), Charlotte Watson, Jess Buchanan, Sarah Robertson (Wimbledon), Ellie MacKenzie (Surbiton), Eve Pearson (Hampstead and Westminster), Fiona Burnet, Katherine McLaren, Sarah Jamieson (Watsonians), Heather McEwan (Braxgata, Belgium), Jess Ross, Ruth Blaikie (The University of Edinburgh).
Meanwhile, Scotland’s under-21 women have left for Chile to compete in the Junior World Cup, the first time a Scotland team has competed in the event since 2005.
They face Spain (December 2), Canada (December 4) and Australia (December 6) in Santiago in their Pool E matches.
Jimmy Culnane (pictured by Nigel Duncan) is the coach and Scotland earned their place by winning gold in the EuroHockey Championship II in Turkey last year.
