Scotland vice-captain Helen Nelson has signed for Trailfinders Women ahead of next season as a very busy 2025/26 at all levels of women’s rugby comes to an end.
When it was announced in June that an increased number of 47 female players will be contracted for the 2026/27 season by Scottish Rugby as part of a revised contracting model in alignment with the new women’s performance and pathways system, stand-off Nelson was the only player whose club was listed as TBC.
Well, now it has been confirmed that she will be at Trailfinders along with a number of other Scots after the summer following a number of years with their PWR rivals Loughborough Lightning.
Nelson, the 32-year-old who has 80 international caps under her belt, said: “I’m really excited to be joining Trailfinders.
“The team have gone from strength-to-strength, and making the play-off final this year was a massive achievement for a relatively new programme.
“I love the way the team play. It’s an exciting brand of rugby across the board, they want to move the ball and attack from everywhere and they’re brave in the way they defend too. It’s a team with world class players and a coaching staff I’m excited to work with.
“The fans have always been really loud and clearly passionately support the girls. I’m really excited to experience that and be a part of that.”
It is two months today until Scotland’s first Test match of 2026/27 [September 12 at home to Canada], but before that an international training squad is set be named and domestic Scottish leagues will start.
Hopefully more detailed information will be made available about how Scottish Rugby’s new contracting system will work in practice as, with so many players now based north of the border, making sure they all get game time of the right standard will be a challenge and vitally important. The Celtic Challenge plans for the season being firmed up will feed into this.
Plenty to keep an eye out for then and 2026/27 looks to be just as busy as last season in women’s rugby with the inaugural British and Irish Lions tour to then take place in early 2027/28 too.
From an international point of view in the coming season, well it starts with the inaugural WXV Global Series which is set to feature 18 of the world’s best teams and will see the top 12 teams compete across home and away matches.
Scotland will host Canada, New Zealand and Australia in September before travelling down under to face the Wallaroos twice.
The Autumn campaign begins against the 2025 Rugby World Cup runners-up Canada on September 12 before welcoming the Black Ferns to these shores the following weekend on September 19 and concluding against Australia on September 26.
Scotland’s away fixtures will take place against Australia on October 17 and October 23.
Heading into 2027, Scotland will host Ireland on Apil 10 in their opening match of the Women’s Six Nations.
Scotland then travel to England on April 17 followed by a visit to France in round three on April 24.
After the fallow week, Scotland will resume the tournament with a home match against Italy on May 8 before finishing with another home match versus Wales on May 15.
Full details of the 2026/27 ‘Scotland Women Season Package’ from Scottish Rugby are available here.
Helen Nelson is pictured – thanks to N50 Photography
It is shaping up to be an exciting 2026/27 season for women’s rugby in Scotland and GH Media will be covering it in detail – if any companies are keen to support this content please send an email to gary@gh-media.co.uk