Passion And Profession

Rhona Lloyd, Scotland

“See It. Believe It.” is a powerful storytelling campaign, launched in partnership with Vodafone, that inspires new audiences to watch women’s rugby by challenging the perceptions that exist around the game, and celebrating the sport. In a landmark year for the women’s game, these stories showcase the skill, physicality, and competitiveness that define the sport through the eyes of elite players, pathway players, and fans.

Rhona Lloyd plays for the Scotland Women’s rugby team and recently competed in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations. Rhona shares more about her rugby journey, her teammates, and her hopes for the future of the sport.

My name is Rhona Lloyd, I am 28 years old, and grew up in Edinburgh with a Welsh dad and a Scottish mum. I first got into rugby at Tynecastle High School when Scotland International, Sarah Quick, ran a taster session. She pointed me in the direction of my local club, Murrayfield Wanderers, which was just a ten-minute walk from my school. The club was right on the back pitches of Murrayfield Stadium, so it was a pretty inspiring place to start!

I have always played rugby for the community. The sport introduced me to incredible people - both teammates and competitors - and has taken me to places I never dreamed I would have the chance to go: New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Africa...

I love the physical challenge of the game, but some of my favourite memories come after the final whistle, like celebrating with teammates, singing on the bus, and achieving something together while representing Scotland.

Our team is really close. A lot of us have played together since the under-15s, and some of our mums are now even best friends! We always have each other’s backs, both on and off the pitch.

Supporting The Women’s Game

Women’s rugby relies on sponsors to help keep us driving forward, so it’s important to have brands like Vodafone working with Scottish Rugby and making a commitment to have a genuine impact on the game.

For example, this season Vodafone’s monitoring app, PLAYER.Connect, has made tracking our daily wellbeing and recovery much smoother. We use the app daily to record any soreness while tracking our moods and sleep patterns. We also include details about our menstrual cycle, which helps us better understand the impact it has on our performance and well-being. As a team, we have found this incredibly useful.

I also got to revisit my first club and high school through Vodafone's Hometown Heroes project, which was a special experience. This is an initiative that celebrates and supports local communities across the UK, using technology as a tool for connection at a local level.

As a player, I appreciate how involved Vodafone is at every stage of the game and the creative ways they connect with the community.

In fact, they recently carried out research that showed that 45% of fans say they “would not watch” women’s rugby, despite never having watched a game. But for those who have seen even just one match, over half said they are more likely to then watch the Women’s Six Nations over the Men’s!

That says a lot. I have faced prejudice against women's rugby throughout my career, but I try not to spend energy on hurtful comments, especially from people who have not engaged with the sport. Women's rugby is about building its own culture and creating a game day experience people genuinely want to be a part of.

Every Player Has A Story

One of the biggest challenges women’s sport faces is funding. Scotland Women turned professional three years ago. Before that, I was juggling international rugby with two part-time jobs and my university studies. My days started at 4:30am for work and ended around 9:30pm after training. I am incredibly lucky that this is no longer my reality, but it still is for many women playing top-level club rugby.

As the game becomes more professional at the club level, fewer players will face that kind of pressure. But that growth depends on more fans engaging with women's rugby, bigger crowds at games and more people tuning in to watch.

What makes our game special is the family atmosphere. The crowd is younger and more family-oriented, and it is easier to connect with players. Many of us are more than just athletes. We have jobs, degrees, and unique stories. For example, Rachel Malcolm is our captain and also a university lecturer with a PhD. Evie Wills is a nurse. Rachel McLachlan is a physio, and Emma Wassell is an accountant. Every player brings something different.

These are my teammates, our support staff, and the people who keep the Scotland Women’s team moving forward. Each of them has their own story, their reason for being here. And that’s what makes it all so special.

Dreaming Of Rugby

I hope women's rugby keeps growing, filling stadiums, and becoming more accessible at every level. Today, girls can dream of becoming professional rugby players - something that I never imagined as a child because it simply was not an option. Back then, I dreamt of playing for Scotland, thinking it would be a passion, not a profession.

Most of all, I want women's rugby to continue to be celebrated and seen as a sport for everyone.

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Vodafone is working with Scotland international player Rhona Lloyd to tackle false stereotypes and bring the game to new audiences. As the Nation’s Network, Vodafone is committed to lifting the nation through the power of positive connections. The “See It. Believe It.” campaign builds on the brand’s long-standing support for women’s rugby and its role as a Principal Partner of. Scottish Rugby.