Dr Rachel Malcolm is currently a flanker for the Scotland women’s rugby union team and Loughborough Lightning. The current team captain, she made her international debut in 2016 during Scotland’s first Rugby World Cup Qualifier.
Born on 23 May 1991 in Glasgow, Rachel Malcolm comes from a family of rugby players. Her oldest brother, Donald, previously played for the Scotland U19s side, while her younger brother, James, currently represents the Seattle Seawolves. Her dad, Walter, also played district rugby.
In addition to her sporting family, Malcolm also has an impressive background in academia. As a doctor, she graduated with a PhD in environmental physiology from Nottingham Trent University – she enrolled as a part-time student in order to lecture and continue playing rugby. Today, she balances her work as a full-time lecturer with her rugby career.
Outside of education, Rachel Malcolm’s talent was first spotted at a game of touch-rugby in 2015. She signed to Lichfield Ladies and transferred to Loughborough Lightning in 2017, where she captained the team during their inaugural Premier 15s season.
In the same year, Malcolm made her first start for Scotland at the 2017 Women’s Six Nations. However, she suffered an injury during the match and had to step down for the rest of the tournament. Fortunately, she recovered in time for the team’s match against Ireland in 2018. She scored a penalty during the game and Scotland made history by beating Ireland for the very first time.
She was named team captain in 2019 for Scotland’s first summer tour to South Africa and then again in the 2020 Six Nations. Two years later, Malcolm captained the Scottish squad for a third time at the 2021 Six Nations. However, she sustained a knee injury that left her out of action for much of the tournament.
Known for her dedication and work rate, we look forward to seeing what else Rachel Malcolm can accomplish.
“We obviously had a tough couple of years,” Malcolm said on reflection. “But one thing that's super special about Scotland and most Scotland teams is their ability to stick together through tough times and I think the experience we've had over the last four years puts us in really good stead in South Africa.
Head coach Bryan Easson is delighted to have respected duo Rachel Malcolm and Helen Nelson leading Scotland to the upcoming World Cup in New Zealand.
Scotland Women's 