It was a special day for Rachel Malcolm last Saturday as she reached 50 Scotland caps and it was also a special family day for her family.
Mum Yvonne and dad Walter have been with the Scotland skipper every step of the way on her sporting journey firstly as she played hockey to a good level and now since she has been playing rugby for nine years.
As a result, it was fitting that they were in the DHL Stadium in Cape Town a few days ago as she earned her 50th cap as she led her country to a 19-0 WXV 2 victory over Italy.
Also in the stands were Rachel’s sister Clare and partner Walter and Rachel’s brother James and his partner Laura while Rachel’s other brother Donald, his pregnant wife Fiona and Rachel’s nephew Evan were cheering on from back home.
You certainly could not miss the group who were in the iconic stadium due to the fact that they unfurled a huge banner to celebrate Rachel’s 50th cap before kick-off with the player herself remarking post-match: “It was quite funny when I ran out first and saw a massive banner with my face on as it was not what I expected, but my family have always got my back and it was great that they could be here to share this moment with me.”
Dad Walter joked: “The banner was Laura’s idea in the first place and when we all unfurled it in the ground it was maybe bigger than we all expected!
“Seriously though, Rachel deserved that recognition on her big day because she has put so much into her journey with the Scotland women’s team and we have loved every minute of following her and supporting her.
“Before the game I was a bit nervous because I knew that Rachel would not just want to be getting her 50th cap, but that she would want to do it with a win. Conditions were tough, but the team navigated their way through it to get the victory and then the six of us were given the nice surprise of being invited into the changing rooms afterwards.
“[Scotland team manager] Ellen Dickson sorted that out for us and it was great for us to be able to see Rachel and her team mates so soon after.”
Vice-captain Helen Nelson began talking about Rachel post-match and then passed the special 50th cap on to Walter to present to his daughter.
“I didn’t know that was coming from Helen, so it caught everyone unawares, but it was a lovely gesture from her and I won’t lie I was a bit speechless presenting the cap to Rachel.
“It was an emotional moment because Yvonne and myself are so proud of what she has achieved it can be hard to put into words at times.”
Mum Yvonne said: “It was a very special day on Saturday, it is just so nice seeing Rachel doing something that she loves with her friends, they really are a special group together.
“That was made evident by all of the lovely things they did for her on Friday evening [the shirt presentation] when they had put in loads of thought to a poem and a song and there were lots of messages sent from home which Emma Wassell had helped put together.
“They really do all support each other on and off the pitch and they have had to navigate a lot of ups and downs in recent years, but they do it together and there is something special about it and I know Rachel values the group and the coaches and management a lot.
“Like any mother, I am always a bit nervous watching games because I don’t want Rachel to get hurt, but I know how much she just loves playing rugby and it is such a good feeling watching her lead her country with such pride.
“When she was younger hockey was more her sport and of all the children she probably showed the least interest in rugby despite her dad having played it and then her brothers getting involved.
“As James was coming through in rugby she started to take more of an interest, but we were still surprised when she said she was going to start training with Lichfield [in 2015].
“We knew that she would put everything into it though because that is just the kind of person she is and we soon swapped hockey touchlines for rugby ones to watch her play.
“I am just so happy that she found a sport that she loved and to see what she has done since making her Scotland debut in 2016 makes us proud every day.”
After the excitement of the weekend, the Malcolm support crew are currently enjoying a few days in George before returning to Cape Town for Saturday’s second match of three versus Japan which is at the Athlone Sports Stadium.
They have been celebrating and reflecting on Rachel’s 50 cap milestone and Yvonne and Walter know better than most that cap number 51 will now be the most important one to the diligent and driven skipper of her country.
“She just wants Scotland and this group of players to do well and it is never about her, it is all about the squad and we can’t wait to watch them again versus Japan,” Walter concluded.
Thanks to the Malcolm family for the images
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