Amelia MacDougall has made childhood dreams come true but still wants more

It is very apt that while more than 1,000 miles away from home, Amelia MacDougall was able to reflect upon just how far she had come in her fledgling rugby career.

Whilst enjoying a rare break from the demands of elite sport on the sun-kissed Greek island of Corfu, the Saracens fly-half found herself reminiscing with her family about the little girl who once stood alongside her father in the stands at StoneX Stadium, dreaming of one day pulling on the famous black and red shirt herself.

Fast forward to the present day, and that childhood dream has become a reality – and then some.

"We actually spoke about this, me and my parents, while we were on holiday, how it is kind of crazy that what I once spoke about all the time and wanted when I was a kid is actually happening," MacDougall, who started playing rugby for Saracens Amateurs aged six, explained with a smile.

Still only 21, MacDougall has already celebrated a domestic double with the club she grew up supporting, surpassed 50 senior appearances and established herself as one of the promising young talents looking to make their mark in the women's game.

Yet, for all she has achieved in such a short space of time, the ambitious playmaker is acutely aware that her journey is only just beginning.

"I've still got a lot of things in my career that I want to achieve,” said MacDougall. “It's a good point to be at right now, but there’s a lot more to come, hopefully. I'm not going to get ahead of myself now.”

Those ambitions have only grown following a memorable 2025/26 campaign, in which MacDougall played a starring role in Saracens retaining the PWR Next Gen Cup, the second cup success of her career, as she finished as the competition’s leading points scorer.

Saracens also reclaimed the PWR crown after four years without the league title, ending Gloucester Hartpury's run of three successive triumphs, with MacDougall bringing up her half-century of Sarries appearances in the final against Trailfinders Women.

"Winning the Cup was good, especially as I had a big part in it," she explained. “It makes you hungrier to win more trophies. That feeling is pretty special, to do it with your really good friends. It's probably the best feeling.

“Going into the season with that Cup already won, it was a good platform. We knew we wanted to go one step further and win the Prem. I probably didn't play as much as I would have liked to [in the PWR], but when you've got Zoe [Harrison] at the club, it's not the easiest thing to do.

“I'm just enjoying playing where I can. Hopefully, this season in the Prem, I can get a few more minutes and contribute more to the team.”

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Indeed, competing for the No. 10 shirt with World Cup winner Zoe Harrison presents a formidable challenge, but one MacDougall has come to embrace.

Rather than viewing the England international's presence as an obstacle, the youngster believes training alongside one of the world's finest has accelerated her progression.

"I think it's helped me more than I probably first thought when I came to the club," continued MacDougall.

"I thought maybe it was going to hinder my development, not playing as much and trying to compete with someone who's at the very top. But I think it's helped me with my development even more, learning from the best and competing with the best.

"She sets the standard for international level, and I know exactly what I've got to do to be an international 10.”

In particular, MacDougall has sought to learn from Harrison's game management, an aspect she quickly realised was crucial when making the transition to the senior game.

"Coming into a senior environment, you learn a lot and you have to learn very quickly about the backfield and managing the game, especially if you're a 10," explained MacDougall, who attended Oaklands College growing up.

"Watching how she manages games, which I think is one of her strengths, has really helped me."

And while dislodging Harrison remains no easy task, MacDougall is determined to close the gap and establish herself as a more regular starter in the PWR, even if that means playing elsewhere on the pitch.

Beyond that, her ultimate ambition is to follow in Harrison's footsteps by representing the Red Roses.

"I want to be an international,” she said. “That's my main goal. You've just got to work hard and get minutes, but you've also got to be patient.

"Everyone's journey happens at different times, and especially as a 10, you've got to learn a lot before you can actually be that starting 10 in a Red Roses shirt."

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For now, MacDougall's immediate focus is on helping Saracens continue their winning ways.

The defending PWR champions have begun their latest Cup campaign with three bonus-point victories from three Pool A matches, and with their last match against Exeter Chiefs to come, qualification, although not mathematically confirmed, looks highly probable.

Although, the fly-half insists there is still plenty more to come from her side.

"We're pretty happy with the results that we've got, maybe not so happy with the performances we're putting in," she said.

"We know how we can play and maybe we haven't really shown that yet. It's just playing well through the whole 80 minutes, that's what we're after. We know we can do it; we've just got to tighten some things up."

Away from the field, MacDougall enlists the help of the family dog Robbie to switch off, walking the black Labrador cross whenever she can.

A summer spent paddleboarding with friends in Richmond and on various lakes also gave MacDougall, who graduated from Middlesex University with a sports science degree in 2026, the perfect opportunity to unwind after such a successful season last term.

Another academic chapter waits for MacDougall, who will embark upon a master's degree in sports business and innovation at Loughborough University’s London campus in February next year.

But now back across the white lines, the young starlet remains as determined as ever to continue making strides in north London and beyond.