Evie Gallagher acknowledges that she couldn’t have asked for a finer 25th birthday gift than contributing to Scotland’s dominant triumph over Wales in the Rugby World Cup.
The 38-8 victory with a bonus point in the Pool B opening match at the Salford Community Stadium in Manchester held extra significance for Gallagher, marking her inaugural World Cup appearance after being sidelined from the previous tournament in New Zealand due to an injury.
Having celebrated her 25th birthday on Friday, the number eight player was completely attuned to the crucial match on Saturday. The Bristol Bears athlete delivered a characteristically dependable performance and secured one of the six tries achieved by her team.
“I absolutely adored my birthday weekend; it couldn’t have unfolded more perfectly,” the Stirling County product, who achieved 10 carries, covered 84 meters, and executed 12 tackles in the match, expressed with a bright smile.
“The team made me feel incredibly special on Friday, and then there are simply too many words to adequately capture Saturday; it was utterly unbelievable. I am immensely proud of everyone who wore the jersey.”
“We discussed the importance of starting strong and maintaining that momentum, as we were dissatisfied with certain aspects of our preparation matches.”
“The beginning was indeed fast, and we quickly accumulated 17 points on the scoreboard. However, what was particularly satisfying in the first half was preventing Wales from scoring as the 40-minute mark approached, ensuring we held a substantial lead at halftime.”
“I believe that when we have momentum, we become a different team entirely. We sustained that momentum throughout this match, which was truly positive. We knew we were capable of an 80-minute performance, and we delivered it.”
“Personally, scoring a try was a great feeling, but perhaps the best aspect for me was finally earning a World Cup cap, and now I simply desire more of it.”
The next challenge for the Scots in Pool B is Fiji this coming Saturday in Manchester, followed by a clash with the world’s second-ranked team, Canada, in Exeter on September 6th.
Fixture
Women’s Rugby World Cup
Scotland Women
Fiji Women
Scotland is now considered the frontrunner to advance to the quarter-finals, likely following group leader Canada.
Against Wales, winger Francesca McGhie distinguished herself with a hat-trick of tries, and Gallagher believes that her young teammate has even greater potential to unlock.
“She was our standout performer on the field, she is extraordinary,” Gallagher declared. “Fran has a remarkably bright future ahead of her, and I find it hard to believe that this is her first time at a World Cup, as she appeared so calm and composed whenever she received the ball, and she seems to take everything in stride.”
“I honestly don’t believe she is fully aware of how talented she is and how much better she can become, considering she is only 22. She already possesses confidence, but I believe that in terms of her potential growth in the game, the sky is the limit.”
Many also believe that the sky is the limit for Gallagher herself.
Last March, captain Rachel Malcolm described Gallagher as “the heartbeat of the Scotland team at the moment,” and that assessment remains largely unchanged.
Her performance level remains remarkably consistent, and her exceptional strengths lie in her ability to read the game defensively and her effectiveness as a disruptive force at the breakdown.
It comes as no surprise that whenever the prospect of the inaugural women’s British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2027 is discussed, Gallagher’s name frequently enters the conversation.
Head coach Bryan Easson recognizes the pivotal role Gallagher plays in everything his team undertakes, stating: “When you speak to her about missing the previous World Cup, she simply dismisses it, stating that it is part of the learning process.”
“She believes that missing the last World Cup has likely shaped her into the player she is today. She was driven by that adversity, and she has faced other challenges in her life as well.”
“She has consistently strived to become the best version of herself. She is a quiet individual, a bit of a silent assassin. Evie is a valuable presence within the group; she simply gets on with her work.”
“She is a fantastic individual to have around. She is genuinely a world-class player. Some of her defensive work is outstanding, her attacking contact work is also exceptional, and she serves as a significant ball carrier for us. We are fortunate to have her.”
Gallagher herself is confident that the Scots can achieve even greater heights moving forward, following their benchmark performance against Wales, which marked the country’s first World Cup victory since 2010 against Sweden.
“Yes, I believe there are aspects we definitely need to improve upon,” she stated after the Wales match.
“In the game over the weekend, our breakdown work was not up to par, and when we maintain possession of the ball in the right areas, we can be even more formidable than we were.”
“These are certainly things we will be focusing on fixing before we face Fiji – I’m simply excited to see how far we can progress from here.”
