Sale Sharks have signed Scotland international lock Eva Donaldson on a two-year-deal from the start of the 2025/26 PWR season.
The 23-year-old, who can also play in the back-row, arrives in Manchester from Leicester Tigers Women, where she worked with new Sharks Head Coach Tom Hudson and Scrum Coach Luke Stratford.
Eva’s rugby journey began at the age of 15 when she started playing at Stirling County. After playing for three seasons with the U18s side, she moved on to the University of Edinburgh, where she combined her rugby with a degree in Sports and Recreation Management.
Eva was involved in the team that won BUCS national league in 2020 and reached the BUCS National Cup final in 2022 at Sixways Stadium. She joined Leicester ahead of the 2023/24 season.
On the international scene, Eva made her Scotland debut against Colombia during the Rugby World Cup 2021 Final Qualification match in Dubai. She’s since gone on to win 15 caps.
Eva said: “I love that Sale Sharks is genuinely one club. The men and women are in the same building and everyone at the club is so friendly and welcoming.
“That was a big factor in wanting to join the club and so was the coaching group. I really enjoyed working with Tom and Luke at Leicester and I feel they really helped my development as a player in all aspects of my game.
“Tom loves to understand how each player works and he really cares. I’m really looking forward to being coached by them both again.
“Our team next year will be quite new and we know it’ll take time for us all to gel, but there’s so much talent and ambition at the club and I know we can achieve big things together.
“I’m excited about the World Cup but I’m really looking forward to everyone getting back to see what we can do together.”
Sharks Head Coach Tom Hudson said: “We want the set-piece to be a huge part of our DNA next season and Eva is certainly the next piece of that puzzle.
“She has worked incredibly hard over the last few seasons to really master her lineout calling and make it her own. I hope she continues to do this here at Sale.
“Alongside her set piece expertise, Eva has an incredible ability to maintain the highest level of energy and application session after session, come rain, wind or snow. This can only enhance the northern grit mentality that already runs through this club.”
