Big contingent from Caithness in girls' Caledonia North squads
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Caithness is well represented in this year's girls' rugby Caledonia North squads.
An 11-strong contingent who turn out for the club feature in the under-16s, while six are included in the under-18s.
The squads were confirmed following a final assessment at a six-hour session in Inverness last weekend.
Girls' coach Sinclair Dunnett is delighted with how his players performed at the event and the main selection weekend earlier this month when 600 girls vied to get a place in the 10 regional squads.
The Caley North sides have their first game on Sunday when they play Midlands in Dundee.
That is followed on successive Sundays with matches against Glasgow North in Inverness; Glasgow South in Troon; and East in Inverness.
Coach Dunnett said: "Just about all of the girls we put forward got a place. They all showed up really well at the sessions and I'm looking forward to seeing them play in the matches."
The under-16 squad includes Sarah-Jane Dunnett, Alyssa Gunn, Iona Gill, Sophie Gunn, Megan Mackay, Sarah Manson, Sophie Miller, Laina Munro, Tamzin Rosie, Cailynn Williamson and Annie Womack.
The under-18 squad includes Abbie Dunnet, Hannah Dunnett, Rhianna Mackay, Bethany Peden, Paige Scott and Alesha Womack.
Listed are several Orcadians who turn out for the Caithness youth sides.
Scottish Rugby's performance pathway programme manager Robbie Lavery said: “The regional game series will provide some of our best young talent an excellent platform to enhance their game-play opportunities and develop game skill at an intensity higher than they have experienced locally.
"It also provides a key step within our pathway for players, coaches and match officials to progress on their journey in rugby.
“We hope the series will be a positive experience for the 200 girls selected and the opportunity it provides them as they look to move up into our under-16 pathway and under-18 national age grade programmes.”
Hannah Dunnett has been turning out for Heriot's senior side in the Scottish Women's Premiership over the past couple of weeks.
On Saturday, the 17-year-old from Thurso played in the Premiership play-off semi-final when the Edinburgh team went down 28-5 to Stirling County.
Hannah, who played for Scottish under-18s last season, generally plays scrum-half but was fielded at blindside flanker in the match at Peffermill.
Also playing for Heriot's were former Caithness exiles Emily Flavell and Morven Thomson.
