Former Inverness Craig Dunain player set to win 40th cap for Scotland

Former Inverness Craig Dunain player Jade Konkel will win her 40th cap for Scotland when they take on Japan.

The 25-year-old who plays at number eight has been named in the starting 15 to take on the Cherry Blossoms at Scotstoun in Glasgow on Sunday.

It is the second test match Scotland play in the Autumn series and will be looking for improvement after their 17-3 defeat to Wales last week.

After making her international debut in 2013 against England, the former Fortrose Academy pupil has scored nine tries during her international career.

Konkel, who plays for English club Harlequins, was one of 10 players to receive a 2021 contract for the 2019/20 season from the Scottish Rugby Union that will provide financial support to enable her to train and play professionally.

The aim of the contracts is to help Scotland qualify for the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Scotland have failed to qualify for the last two World Cup tournaments in France in 2014 and Ireland in 2017.

Konkel played for Hillhead Jordanhill in Glasgow when she became Scottish Rugby's first full-time female player in the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy in 2016.

She joined French club Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvois in the 2017/18 season.

Konkel was also part of the Scotland team which recorded a 2–0 series win in South Africa during September and October.

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