FORMER England scrum-half Caity Mattinson insists she is loving life in the Scotland WXV setup.

Mattinson was born in Inverness, but having been brought up in Northumberland, came through the ranks of the England rugby system.

She made seven appearances for the Red Roses between 2017 and 2018, before choosing to switch allegiances to Scotland at the start of 2022 following the introduction of World Rugby’s new eligibility rule.

Now a regular fixture for the Scots, Mattinson couldn’t be happier with her new surroundings.

“I wouldn't change my journey for the world,” she said.

“It was a fast but natural progression for me to go through the English pathway because of where I lived.

“I learned a lot in that time, but I adore this group of people. I'm extremely proud to be playing for Scotland, and it just feels right to be in this environment.

“There are even little things that are just super special. We've done a ceilidh before every gym session since we've been out here, we listen to loads of traditional Scottish music.

“There's so much that binds everyone together culturally, and it’s the stuff that you don't get anywhere else that I adore. It's super, super special.”

WXV is giving fans more opportunities to see the best teams and the biggest names in women's rugby compete on the global stage. There is everything to play for as teams compete to secure promotion, avoid relegation for their regional positions and win points to climb the global rankings.

Mattinson is hoping the increased output of women’s rugby will inspire more girls to get into the sport.

“It's absolutely crucial,” she said. “The older I've got, the more value I've seen in that.

“When I was growing up, I wanted to play for Scotland and assumed that I would play on the same team as Chris Patterson – it didn't really occur to me that there’d be a separate women's team!

“It's super important that that visibility grows and that kids have that to aspire to.

“I'd love to see the game growing, not just because I want kids to aspire to play for the national team, but because of the friends, the connections and the confidence that rugby gives you.

“It doesn't matter what level you play. I think the whole concept of the rugby family is super important, and the more people that get to experience that joy, the better.”