Malcolm relishing new challenge at Trailfinders

Just as quickly as Rachel Malcolm batted away questions of retirement, she rapidly settled into life with a new team. 

The 34-year-old left Loughborough Lightning after eight years in African violet, having been part of their very first team in 2017. 

Searching for a new challenge, she joined Trailfinders Women ahead of the 2025-26 PWR season and has helped prepare them for a tilt at the top four. 

“That was probably one of the biggest reasons that I moved, I wanted a fresh challenge to re-energise me,” she said. 

“I had only really ever known one thing, and that was Loughborough. I have so much that I owe to them in terms of what I achieved in my career, the athlete I have become, the person I have become.

“At this point in my career, I needed something that was going to add energy to what I am about and challenge me a little bit and put me outside of my comfort zone.

“It has been exactly what I wanted it to be. It is definitely a challenge, the standard of players that we have here and the standard of play that we want to achieve, so I know that I have got to be on my best and that is definitely challenging me as a player.

“But it is also giving me the opportunity to add to a new environment. I have got some passions around set piece and defence that I have definitely tried to bring into this environment.

“Something that I am pretty passionate about is always adding to any environment, not taking away from it, and adding positive influence to players and always trying to help them be the best I can be.

“Coming into a new club, a new group of players and a new coaching environment has been really energising to me, not only to push myself but to help others to push their limits as well.” 

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With Trailfinders in only their third year as part of the PWR, they are entering new territory by trying to break into the top four, and with it earn a first-ever semi-final spot. 

But it is a situation Malcom experienced twice with Lightning in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, losing at the semi-final stage both times. 

It is why she may be best placed to instruct the team on how to regroup after their bruising 57-5 defeat to Saracens in Round 5, as the challenge of facing the only unbeaten team, Gloucester Hartpury, hurtles towards them. 

Malcolm added: “I know the way the season works in terms of which of the games are really important that you take points from and how momentum changes can affect you. One bad result doesn’t define your season, I have learned that is really important. 

“At Loughborough, we probably backed up one bad result with another and let that hangover effect happen. 

“With the way this league works, you have to put that bad result aside and move on because every team in this league is competitive.

“The ability to learn as quickly as you can, review, reflect and push forward is massive to be able to achieve top four. 

“We are not going to have a perfect season, and the teams that achieve top four are the ones who can bounce back quickly from a bad result and come back and get the result.” 

Managing the highs and lows is something Malcolm has been accustomed to as captain of Scotland.

She helped steer the side to their first quarter-final in 23 years at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, but did it with a cloud of uncertainty around contracts hanging over the team.

In November, Malcolm was confirmed as one of 15 players in the PWR to receive a full-time contract from the Scottish Rugby Union. 

Malcolm added: “The unity in our group is unquestioned, you can see that we play for each other, we love being in camp, we love being in each other’s company.

“We had a fantastic group of people all working to one goal. We reached the knockout stages and put out some performances that I think were some of the best we have put in over the last decade.

“So to have that opportunity to showcase what we have been working for, but also to enjoy our time off the pitch, and at such an exciting tournament that was put on for us, was without a doubt a highlight of my career.”