Highland rugby player Jade Konkel is determined to live up to her historic billing after becoming the first woman in Scottish rugby to play full-time.
The 22-year-old, pictured, who was born in Inverness and grew up on the Black Isle, has been offered the chance to develop her game after becoming the first female to reach stage three of the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy.
The Scotland international is honoured to have been selected and aims to repay the SRU’s faith.
She said: “I was emotional when they offered me the role because it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. I’m relishing this opportunity and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. It’s a huge honour to focus my time and energy on becoming a better athlete, for myself and for Scotland.”
Konkel, who has been capped 23 times for her country, was raised in rugby, supporting her parents and brothers at her local club, Inverness Craig Dunain.
She took up the sport with Northern Vixens, memorably teaming with her mum Emma for one game at the Bught Road club before she earned a move to Glasgow side Hillhead-Jordanhill, where she is now captain.
Konkel said: “This is the beginning of a new journey for Scotland women, with more investment and time being put into the game, following on from the appointment of a full-time coach in Shade Munro and the support from the SRU Academy from last year.
“There’s a massive opportunity for women in this sport to grow and, hopefully, going full-time shows it’s definitely on a path.”
Konkel’s selection should come as no surprise given her excellent ath-letic aptitude and she has proven to be a player with a broad sporting skill set.
She spent two seasons with national league basket-ball side Highland Bears and represented Scotland in athletics for the army cadets, winning two gold medals in 2008-09 for shot put and discus. She also has a black belt in the martial art Goshin-Ryu Kempo.
