If you had said to Rachel Malcolm in 2015 when she took up the sport aged 24 that she would go on to earn one Scotland rugby cap she would not have believed you, but on Saturday she will earn cap number 50.
Given that she did only transition from a good level hockey career to one in rugby nine years ago, her journey, in which the back-rower has captained her country over 40 times, has been nothing short of remarkable.
Scotland are in Cape Town ahead of WXV 2 matches with Italy (Saturday, DHL Stadium 2pm UK time, shown on BBC iPlayer and RugbyPass TV), Japan (October 5) and Australia (October 12).
And, as they begin their title defence and she reaches a personal half century, Loughborough Lightning’s Malcolm has taken time out to look back on the last few years.
“The start of my rugby career was a complete whirlwind,” the player from Glasgow recounts.
“I had ambitions of play hockey for Scotland in my youth and into my early 20s and once the dream of that full cap seemed to disappear it was about finding a way to play for my country in whatever sport it may be, that was all I had ever wanted to do.
“I have always been super passionate about sport and super passionate about representing Scotland and that has lot to do with my upbringing in a sporting family.
“However, when I first started rugby I never thought I’d get to this level to be honest, it was more to try something new away from hockey to give me a new challenge.
“I literally went to one rugby session in 2015 and was hooked straight away.
“I got a buzz from the sport straight away and thought ‘I want some of this’ and probably the best thing about rugby is the values within it.
“Those values completely align with my values as a person in terms of the family environment, the supportive environment and the trust and respect element that every team that I have been a part of has had.
“When I went along to Lichfield back in 2015 I had no idea that they were one of the best clubs in England at the time, but even though I was knew seasoned players and some internationalists were so welcoming and made me feel supported straight away.
“Ever since then I have felt supported by the rugby environment through the highs and the lows and I have tried to support others in the sport too.
“In terms of the support I received in my early rugby days, I was playing hooker and Amy Cockayne, the England hooker, really helped me out and took time out of her busy schedule at Lichfield to coach me.
“I always remember that, but I am glad I migrated to the back-row and really enjoy the challenge here.
“Time has gone so fast that it still seems surreal in terms of how my career has gone, but I just try to enjoy every moment and give everything and things take care of themselves from there.”
Having been a leader for a large chunk of her time in a Scotland shirt, Malcolm is often the person people turn to and talk to, but who is there for her when she needs advice or a quiet word?
“Without a doubt Emma Wassell,” Malcolm stated.
“She is my best friend in a rugby sense, she is my best friend in a non-rugby sense and sometimes I can be overly anxious when it comes to rugby things while she is at the other end of things in that regard so we compliment each other really well and her being there for me helps me at times.
“I am lucky to have her and she is without doubt my biggest sounding board so it is tough not having her out her, but it has also given me a little bit more fire in my belly to go out there in the coming weeks and make her proud.
“Also, the likes of Lisa Thomson and Sarah Bonar are two others that have always been there for me within this squad and I am able to bounce ideas off of them. They are phenomenal leaders themselves, but in general in this group we have great people and great leaders and that makes my job as captain just that bit easier.
“Everyone in the squad supports me and I think that feeling is pretty special, I always feel that support on and off the pitch. We can have a laugh together and we can focus on rugby together and I think the balance we have in this squad is helping us continue to improve.
“I am lucky to have a number of people to lean out.”
As Malcolm’s career has progressed, so too has women’ rugby at an incredible rate.
She said: “The changes in women’s rugby since I took up the game have been greater than any of us could have expected.
“We all push for better, w all push for change, but I don’t think anyone could have envisaged just how dramatic that change was going to be, especially what has happened over the last couple of years.
“It feels like a really exciting place to be in women’s rugby just now, I am 33 now and I am clinging on and keeping as fit as I can because this sport is continuing to grow and it is just brilliant.
“I don’t think I ever thought I would be a professional in my career, but it has happened and cool things just keep on happening and next year’s Rugby World Cup in England is set to be epic.”
And, looking ahead to the Italy match, she added: “One of the most special parts of the day is going to be having family members in the stands.
“My mum and dad have been the biggest supporters throughout the 50 caps, apart from Covis times they have hardly ever missed a game and they are always there for me.
“I just feel truly lucky to have been supported by them and other family members so well.”
Scotland women’s matchday squad for the WXV 2 clash with Italy
15 Chloe Rollie (Ealing Trailfinders) (67)
14 Coreen Grant (Saracens) (12)
13 Emma Orr (Bristol Bears) (21)
12 Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears) (19)
11 Francesca McGhie (Leicester Tigers) (14)
10 Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning) (62)
9 Caity Mattinson (Ealing Trailfinders) (24)
1 Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning) (12)
2 Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears) (71)
3 Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning) (37)
4 Fi McIntosh (Saracens) (3)
5 Sarah Bonar (Harlequins) (39)
6 Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning, C) (49)
7 Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier) (44)
8 Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears) (29)
Subs
16 Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning) (12)
17 Lisa Cockburn (Gloucester-Hartpury) (31)
18 Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears) (13)
19 Louise McMillan (Saracens) (54)
20 Alex Stewart (Corstorphine Cougars) (6)
21 Leia Brebner-Holden (Gloucester-Hartpury/Cheltenham Tigers) (2)
22 Lisa Thomson (Ealing Trailfinders) (61)
23 Lucia Scott (Hartpury University/Gloucester Hartpury) (2)
Rachel Malcolm is pictured leaping for a ball at a lineout in the recent Test versus Fiji, thanks to N50 Photography
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