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Scotland victory ‘feels like such a high’
Jambos gaffer Naismith talks about a renewed focus in the Hearts squad
RUGBY PROFILE - CHRISTINE BELISLE
By NIGEL DUNCANCHRISTINE BELISLE has come
a long way from Peterborough,
not the English version, but one
in Canada, around 78
kilometers north east of Toronto
where she was a figure skater.
It's nickname in the past was
"The Electric City" as it was the
first town in Canada to use
electric streetlights.
It has produced a record
number of National Hockey
League ice hockey and Belisle
has certainly been a bright
spark for Scotland's emerging
women's rugby team.
It remains to be seen if the
29-year-old, who is 5ft 9in tall
and weighs 13st 3lb, can make
a major mark at the top of
women's international rugby,
but she contributed to the
29-21 victory over Italy at Dam
Health Stadium late last month
(April) which snapped a
12-game losing streak.
The much-needed win also
helped the women to record
their first win in this season's
TikTok Women's Six Nations.
Belisle, a prop, said: "That win
is everything. To be able to takewhat we have learned from
previous games and show what
we are capable of doing and
coming out with a win is
something we are so proud of.
"It is an incredible feeling.
It was well earned. After a
lot of low-lows it is the high
we deserve."
Another plus was the crowd
of over 3,600, and Belisle said
that the players fed of their
enthusiasm and energy.
The fans were undoubtedly
Scotland's 16th player on a
heady day, and the celebrations
at the end underlined the relief
at breaking the depressing
recent run, players racing from
the pitchside dugout to hug
each other with the crowd in
full voice.
Looking back, Christine took
up rugby at the age of 15 while
at Thomas A Stewart Secondary
School in Peterborough.
Following her graduation,
she continued to train with the
school and played one more
season with the squad before
travelling in Canada and then
into Europe.
She eventually arrived in
Glasgow and fell in love withthe city, moving there in 2015
and signing for her local club,
Cartha Queens Park. She was a
key part of the Glasgow side
until 2021.
She now plays for Premier
15s side, Loughborough
Lightning and, in 2018,
Christine became eligible to
represent Scotland through
residency, joining the Scotland
women's squad via the Scottish
Qualification Programme.
However, her career was
stalled due to injury and that
prevented her from training
with the squad properly
until 2019.
She did well enough to be
selected for the squad which
travelled to South Africa and
received her first cap in the first
Test match of the tour. Apart
from playing she is a personal
trainer and runs her own
business with prioritises
strength and physique.
And the bobbly player gave
advice to women who are
thinking about getting into
rugby. She said: "Just do it. The
community is incredible and, as
soon as you start, you won't
look back."By NIGEL DUNCANSTEVEN NAISMITH believes that there
is togetherness in the Tynecastle squad since
he took interim charge of Hearts and he
added: "Our focus is on the games, trying to
get results."
He said: "Hearts need to pick up results to
finish the season well.
"When I was a player, being part of an
attacking team was more enjoyable than trying
to defend games and hopefully score a goal and
I hope that the players make more right
decisions than wrong decisions."
During the past two years, he added. a squad
has been built at Tynecastle which is
competitive, which has played in Europe and
had to deal with the congested fixture list.
"Everybody in this dressing-room and
around the club have contributed, but I cannot
say that there has been one moment when
anybody has not given 100 per cent.
"They have strived to get better, tried to
improve and I am really happy with where the
squad is at. The big thing now is to get results."
The former player said that what the
coaching staff are seeing on the training pitch
and what the team are delivering day to day,how the meetings are going and the feedback
they have received from the playing staff
has been brilliant.
But he argued: "That does not bring you
success. What brings you success is playing on
a Saturday and playing with an enjoyment and
playing with a freedom to play the best you
can.That is what gets you results and that is
what we need every Saturday from now on
until the end of the season."
He added: "We need to play going forward,
causing the other team problems. Change is
hard and change takes time but we have got to
get results in this transitional period between
now and the end of the season to finish off well.
"We are playing against the top teams who,
over the of the season, have finished in the
top six. We need to carry a decent threat every
time we play."
The interim boss said: "When I was a young
player there was always an attacking threat
from Hearts. We need to get to that point."
The Irvine-born Scotland international
admitted his new role was impacting on family
life and he said: "I see less of my wife and kids,
but I have a good wife and great kids who
understand.
"This (job) gives me the closest buzz since
I was a player. It is a bit of an addiction."Togetherness at Tynecastle
Hearts manager,
Steven Naismith