Rachel Malcolm

Rachel Ann Malcolm is a Scottish professional rugby player for Loughborough Lightning in the Allianz Premier 15s and Scotland Women. She plays predominantly as a Openside Flanker, however is also at home across the back row. She captained Scotland for the 2021 Women's Six Nations Championship but was forced to step down due to a knee injury in the team's opening game.[1]

Rachel Malcolm
Full nameRachel Ann Malcolm
Date of birth (1991-05-23) 23 May 1991
Place of birthGlasgow, Scotland
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight83 kg (13 st 1 lb; 183 lb)
UniversityNottingham Trent University, Loughborough University
Notable relative(s)James Malcolm (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Blindside Flanker
Current team Loughborough Lightning
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015-17
2017–present		 Lichfield Ladies
Loughborough Lightning		 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016-present Scotland 26 5
Correct as of 6 April 2022

Club career

Malcolm started playing rugby in 2015 with Lichfield Ladies.[2] Her debut followed a game of touch-rugby in Nottingham, where a player for Lichfield Ladies spotted her talent.[3] She was selected as captain of Loughborough Lightning for the inaugural season of England's premier club competition, Premier 15s, in 2017/18 and has continued to play for the side.[4]

International career

After making her Scotland debut as a replacement in Scotland's first Women's Rugby World Cup Qualifier against Spain at Scotstoun Stadium in November 2016,[5] Malcolm's first start came in the 2017 Women's Six Nations opener against Ireland at Broadwood Stadium. During this game, she sustained an injury that meant that she missed the rest of the campaign.[6] She has also started for Scotland at Hooker – on her starting debut in 2017 and against Japan at Scotstoun in the Autumn Test in November 2019.[7]

She was part of the Scottish team that beat Ireland in March 2018, for the first time since the two teams first played each other. It was her penalty that saw them move 3–0 at half-time, with a final score of 15–12 to Scotland.[8]

While developing as an international player, she experienced two concussions during 2018/19. She managed to play for Scotland in three Six Nations games in 2019, but picked up another concussion against Wales, missing the two last games of the championship.[9]

Malcolm captained Scotland on-field on the national side's first ever summer tour, to South Africa, in 2019. She was then named captain ahead of the 2020 Six Nations.[10]

She was part of the Scottish team that secured a landmark draw against France in the 2020 Women's Six Nations Championship.[11] However the championship was disrupted by coronavirus, with Malcolm commenting on the team's desire to finish the championship, although its last matches were ultimately cancelled.[12]

She was named as captain of the Scottish side for the 2021 Women's Six Nations Championship but suffered a knee injury during the first minute of the team's defeat to England, causing her to step down for the rest of the championship.[13]

Playing style

Malcolm is a modern back row player, known for her work-rate about the pitch on both sides of the ball. In her rugby career, she has played in a variety of positions, including hooker and back-row for Scotland.

Education

Malcolm completed her PhD in environmental physiology at Nottingham Trent University. She studied part-time while both playing rugby and lecturing at Nottingham Trent University. She also has a sports and exercise science bachelor's degree, and a master's degree in exercise physiology from Loughborough University.[14]

Since completing her PhD, Malcolm has been working as an Applied Sport Science lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, as well as continuing her research and playing at the highest level of club and international rugby.[15]

Other sports

Malcolm represented Scotland in hockey at U17, U18 and U21 levels.[16]

Personal life

Malcolm's younger brother James is also a rugby player. He was signed to Seattle Seawolves for the 2021 USMLR season.[17] He previously represented Glasgow Warriors and London Scottish.[18] The siblings' older brother Donald Malcolm is a former Scotland U19 player and their father Walter Malcolm also played district rugby.[19]

References
  1. Bean, Graham (12 April 2021). "Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm ruled out of the remainder of the Six Nations Championship". The Scotsman. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  2. "FEATURED From hockey to rugby: Rachel's rise to a Scotland start". BBC Sport. 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  3. Barnes, David (2017-02-02). "Rachel Malcolm handed the number two jersey for Six Nations opener". The Offside Line. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  4. "The Saturday interview: Rachel Malcolm leads Lightning into new era". Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  5. "Women's Rugby World Cup qualifying: Scotland women 5-10 Spain women". Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  6. "Scotland Women v Ireland Women". Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  7. "Scotland Women v Japan Women". 2019-11-24. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  8. "Scotland secure first win over Ireland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  9. August 2019, Gary Heatly Thursday 8. "Scotland star Malcolm on balancing top-level sport and a PhD". Talking Rugby Union. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  10. "Rachel Malcolm named Scotland rugby captain as four uncapped players included in squad". Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  11. "Scotland hit back to hold France". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  12. "Malcolm hopes to finish 2020 Six Nations". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  13. Barnes, David (2021-04-12). "Scotland skipper Rachel Malcolm to miss remainder of Six Nations". The Offside Line. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  14. August 2019, Gary Heatly Thursday 8. "Scotland star Malcolm on balancing top-level sport and a PhD". Talking Rugby Union. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  15. "Rachel Malcolm". Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  16. "From hockey to rugby". Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  17. "Seawolves snap up Scottish hooker James Malcolm". Americas Rugby News. 2021-03-27. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  18. "Scotland's James Malcolm signs with Jackals". Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  19. Barnes, David (2017-02-02). "Rachel Malcolm handed the number two jersey for Six Nations opener". The Offside Line. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
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