Leicester Tigers can confirm the signings of Eva Donaldson, Elis Martin, Francesca McGhie, and Evie Willis ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The four are all rising stars within the game at both domestic and international level and all four are looking to make an impact on Premiership Women’s Rugby.
In December 2022, Scottish Rugby committed to furthering their investment in their women’s programme by offering 28 players professional contracts. Donaldson, Martin, McGhie and Wills are all key parts of the progression of the Scotland squad, all making their debuts for the national team in the last couple of years.
The most experienced international of the quartet is Eva Donaldson. The Second-Row, who can also slot in at flanker, began playing rugby at 15, for local club Stirling County RFC.
From there she moved to Edinburgh to begin University; in her time studying, the BUCS side were triumphant as National League Winners in 2020 as well as reaching the BUCS National Cup Final in 2022.
An exceptional line-out operator, the 21-year-old is ready to make the jump from the BUCS league into the Premiership. Asked about her move to Tigers, she said “I’m excited to be involved in a new environment, team and to challenge myself to develop as a player. No team knows what to expect from us being new to the Premiership which is exciting as we can bring a style of game we’re proud to display to supporters. In my role as a player, it’s so important to me that women’s rugby in Leicester can grow massively. I hope I can inspire many younger players to join rugby and to achieve their goals”.
From one Edinburgh University star to another; Elis Martin is a 24-year-old hooker who is completing her Master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning at the University.
Originally from Glasgow, Martin’s journey started at Hillhead Jordanhill Under 18’s before her move across to Edinburgh. Another key member of BUCS Championship winning teams, Martin is the most experienced at the top level, having made nine appearances for DMP Sharks in last year’s Premiership. Having progressed through the age ranks at International level, Martin featured for the Under-20’s before moving up to the Senior Squad.
Now joining the likes of Tess Feury in making the move from the Sharks, Martin said “I’m excited to join a team that has such a vibrant culture, I’ve heard from so many people of the brilliant environment and I’m happy to be becoming part of it. We have the opportunity to build a legacy in the Premiership and the unknown can be really exciting. I want to be part of a winning club. I think we have an opportunity to really excel in the top environment”.
Despite being the youngest of the four at just 20 years, Francesca McGhie’s star power has grown immensely since making her debut in this year’s Six Nations.
Making her international debut at just 19 in Scotland’s Six Nations opener against England, the speedster went on to start all five games on the left-wing with her star-making moment undoubtedly coming in the final match against Ireland, with a superb solo try that demonstrated silky footwork and flat-out pace in equal measure.
Away from the international scene, McGhie helped win the 2021/22 Scottish Women’s Premier League with previous club Watsonian’s Rugby, where she’s played for the last four years after joining from East Lothian and Border Girls Rugby. Prior to this, McGhie was a dancer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before getting into rugby.
A versatile player, McGhie can play across the back-three as well as at outside-centre and is keen to get started in the midlands. “It is such a great time for women’s rugby and Leicester Tigers are hugely committed to growing the game: I’m so proud that I’m going to be part of the Tigers Family. Being part of a team that has excelled in such a short time, with a great group of players and coaches is an incredible opportunity and I can’t wait to be part of it all. I know the support are the best so look forward to seeing the fans and hopefully meeting some of them very soon.
It is also my debut in Premiership Women’s Rugby so it’s very exciting for me to be playing at the top level. I think it’s a privilege to be part of a club that are so committed to the women’s game and I hope to be able to convey my passion and commitment to the sport I love. I love that rugby is such an inclusive sport allowing people from all different backgrounds to come together. To be able to inspire girls to pick up a rugby ball, have fun and enjoy being part of the Tiger Family would be awesome”.
The final of the four Scottish Internationals joining the Tigers is 22-year-old Inside Centre Evie Willis.
Wills has spent the longest time in the sport of all four women, beginning playing at just 8 years old at Stirling County Rugby Club, playing there until 2017/18.
At that time, Wills got the call from the 7’s set-up and has featured for both Scotland 7’s Under-18’s and the full senior team, from 2018 to 2022, helping the side to qualify for the Commonwealth Games.
The versatile back, who can also play fly-half, made her full senior fifteen-a-side debut in 2021 against Italy in the Six Nations and travelled to New Zealand as part of Scotland’s 2022 World Cup Squad.
Joining the club from Hillhead Jordanhill in Glasgow, Elis Martin’s debut club, Wills is looking forward to another big step in her career. “I am excited to join Leicester Tigers as it’s a new environment with new people in a totally new league for me. Joining Premiership Women’s Rugby is another big step in establishing Leicester Tigers women’s legacy and it is only up from here. Alongside preforming for the club, I feel my role is to help grassroots rugby across the Midlands and show them how exciting our sport can be!”
When asked about the four new additions to the squad, Leicester Tigers Head of Women’s Rugby Vicky Macqueen said ‘’We are very excited for the girls to join up with the squad: the firepower up front and at the set-piece combined with the speed and engine in the backfield will elevate our game across the park. These are four Scottish Internationals right at the beginning of their time in top-level rugby, all four with enormous potential and a versatility that will be invaluable in getting us ready for the 2023/24 season’’.
