Lloyd 'in love with rugby again' after Olympic heartache

Scotland wing Rhona Lloyd is looking forward to "the biggest World Cup in women's rugby history"

Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: Scotland v Wales

Venue: Salford Community Stadium Date: Saturday, 23 August Kick-off: 14:45 BST

Coverage: Live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Online and BBC Sounds

Rhona Lloyd's ultimate ambition as a sportswoman was to be an Olympian. The process of accepting that dream is now likely to go unfulfilled has been difficult.

The Scotland wing has been a regular in the Great Britain Sevens squad for years. Having missed out on selection for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Lloyd set her sights on the Paris Games in 2024.

To many she seemed like a strong contender, but when the squad was announced Lloyd was once again left on the outside looking in.

It was a crushing blow, and one that prompted some self-reflection.

"It's been a really challenging 12 months," Lloyd told the BBC's Scotland Rugby Podcast.

"My one goal in rugby was to go to the Olympics. I think the realisation last summer that that's not happening, that I'm not going to achieve that, was really hard to come to terms with.

"I think I'd probably built my identity around that a little bit."

'I've realised I'm more than a rugby player'

Speaking to Lloyd's Scotland team-mates in the aftermath of her Olympics heartache, it was clear the disappointment was felt not just by her, but the whole squad.

Lloyd was embraced back into the national set-up, where more than one colleague has described her as the heartbeat of the side.

Her passion and enthusiasm for representing Scotland is infectious and, while the Olympics is unlikely to be the career-defining moment she imagined, Lloyd has reset what she wants from her time playing international rugby.

"This season, I've been on a huge learning curve in terms of falling in love with rugby again," Lloyd said. "Realising what I value on the pitch and what I value in my team-mates.

"I'm really proud to kind of now be in a place that I'm so excited to get on the pitch with Scotland again. Even six months ago, I definitely wasn't in that place.

"I've been realising that I'm more than a rugby player and that I'm not defined by selection.

"I really had that attitude going into this pre-season. I had goals for every session, like I always do. But my primary goal was just to enjoy playing rugby again."

'I want to be the role model I never had'

Scotland are preparing to face Wales on Saturday in their opening match of what Lloyd believes will be "the biggest World Cup in women's rugby history".

It is a tremendous opportunity for the women's game to attract new audiences. The tournament will be broadcast live on the BBC, with every match available on the iPlayer and BBC Sport website and select matches shown live on BBC television.

It's a level of exposure that far exceeds what Lloyd experienced in her early days as an international player and she feels a sense of responsibility to inspire the next generation.

"I really want to be the role model that I don't feel like I had growing up," Lloyd said.

"Being that for somebody, that means so much more than as an individual going to the Olympics.

"I've kind of really stripped back what I'm playing for, what makes me really proud, which is being Scottish and the girls I get to do it with.

"Now I'm 28 - will this be the last World Cup? I don't know. Potentially. So I really just want to make the most of that experience."