Nursing student balances studies with Scottish rugby success

A GCU student has opened up on her journey to the top of women’s rugby and her pride at helping Scotland return to the Women’s World Cup after a 12-year hiatus.

Third year Adult Nursing student Evie Wills has been a regular for Scotland Women’s Rugby Sevens and 15s team recently and is now hoping to play her part in the Women’s Rugby World Cup in October this year – which will be Scotland’s first appearance at the competition since 2010.

We caught up with Evie to find out more about her rise to the top of the game and, with graduation just around the corner, her hectic year ahead:

How did you first become involved in rugby?

I did all the generic stuff that a young girl does, like ballet and gymnastics, but I just didn’t enjoy it. I was a bit of a tomboy growing up; I enjoyed playing outside and getting muddy. My dad’s really into sport and I’ve got a younger brother; they used to go to something called Rugby Tots and I was really interested in getting involved.

I decided to go down to my local rugby club, Stirling County. I started there when I was about eight years old and I played with them up until the end of first year at university, when I was 19. It became quite difficult travelling, so I decided to switch closer to Glasgow. It was a tough decision to leave because my dad was actually my coach – as a family we really bought into the rugby culture.

Did you ever have to battle any stereotypes growing up and playing rugby?

I found rugby quite cool and took it all in my stride. My family have always been so supportive and they enjoyed that I wasn’t doing the things that a conventional young girl would do. All my friends at school were guys and were also playing rugby, so it all seemed normal to me.

At a young age, I was totally in my own little bubble, I wasn’t really aware of any stereotypes until I got a bit older. You’re quite self-conscious as a teenager anyway and I started to realise that rugby does come with quite masculine connotations as a sport. However, that’s definitely getting more diluted now. I think the athletes that take part in rugby are changing those negative perceptions because we’re becoming more athletic and have to play a much quicker game.

How did your breakthrough with Scotland come about?

I was in and around the squad from a young age; I was 16 when I first started training with them and that was just to get me more aware of the elite environment. I then got into the Rugby Sevens programme and got my first cap when I was 17. I had a few trips with them and that then led to me becoming more involved with the 15s (Rugby Union team). It’s worked well for me coming through the ranks because I’ve got to know most of the other girls in the squad and develop relationships with them.

Did you ever expect to get to that level?

It’s all felt surreal in all honesty. From a young age, I’ve been idolising these women and I’m now playing alongside them – it’s pretty mad! It was totally like imposter syndrome, where you think “am I actually here, am I actually doing this?”, which is crazy because it’s something that you’ve worked so hard for. It’s important not to think about it too much because it can all become a bit overwhelming; you’ve got to just take it one match at a time and appreciate the position you’re in.

Tell me about your first cap and how things have developed from there…

It happened at the height of covid. We played Italy at Scotstoun in the Six Nations but it was a strange experience because no spectators were allowed to attend – it was a bit gutting that my family couldn’t be there.

In February this year, I got to take part in World Cup Qualifiers in Dubai. It’s been a very long process to try and qualify for this World Cup; our first qualifying tournament was in Italy last September and had Spain, Italy and Ireland in it. We came second, which meant we had to go to this additional tournament in Dubai this year. We managed to beat Colombia, meaning we will go to the World Cup in New Zealand in October – the first time we’ll have participated in the tournament since 2010.

A lot of the girls involved hadn’t managed to get to a World Cup throughout their career and they’re now heading towards the end of their journey now, so it meant a huge deal to them. It’s quite nice because I’m obviously at the start, so we’re both sharing that dream at a separate time in our careers.

It must have been an incredible feeling to have played your part in such an important moment?

I’m massively proud to have been involved in qualifying because it’s one of the things we’ve been talking about as a squad for so long. It would obviously be a dream come true to play at a World Cup. I don’t think I’ll actually believe it until we’re all there because there’s going to be a lot of selection choices for the management team to make – just because we’ve played a part getting there doesn’t guarantee us a place in New Zealand. It’s important that I keep setting little goals for myself along the way, rather than just constantly looking ahead to the World Cup.

It certainly sound like you’ve got a busy year coming up…

Yeah, definitely! On top of everything with the 15s at the World Cup, I’m also really busy with the Sevens season. I’m just back from France, where we were playing on the World Series, which is basically a competition with the top 12 teams across the globe. Russia couldn’t make it due to the current political situation, so we were an invitational team and actually did quite well! We won against England – who are currently ninth in the world - and South Africa.

We’ve also got a few European competitions coming up and then the Commonwealth Games to look forward to as well. Being involved in Sevens will help me get fit for 15s, so it’s all really important for me.

How’s it been balancing your Adult Nursing degree alongside your rugby?

I’m not going to sugarcoat it; it’s been really tough! The pandemic actually benefitted me because it meant that in second year I had a lot of university work but not a lot of rugby, meaning I could fully focus on my degree and get through my placements. In quite a selfish way, I think I’m probably one of the only people who has a silver lining from the everything the last couple of years has thrown at us.

It has been difficult juggling it all but I’ve made sure that I’ve never asked for an extension. If parents who have three kids can get through their degree then there’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to do it.

This year’s Six Nations was the first time I had to choose between rugby and nursing - it’s important for me to remember that rugby isn’t going to be my job for life, whereas nursing is. I’m now really excited to finish my degree because I’ve worked so hard for it.

By Ross Clark           
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or connect with me on Twitter