Rachel McLachlan’s proud parents Hazel and Angus were at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday to see her earn her 50th cap for her country in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations round four clash with England.
As she was growing up, Rachel’s parents were often ferrying her about from judo training and judo competitions and she reached a high level in that sport before making the switch to rugby and never looking back.
It was only in September 2017 that Rachel, now an openside flanker, took up the new sport when she moved from her home city of Edinburgh – where she had attended South Morningside Primary School and Boroughmuir High School – to study physiotherapy at Glasgow Caledonian University.
She made her Scotland debut in November 2018 in Italy and has been in and around the group ever since including going to the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2022. She has also played sevens for her country and was at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2018.
“Rachel tried lots of different sports throughout primary school,” mum Hazel recounts.
“She was the goalie in her all-conquering primary school football team and she started judo, initially through school, aged seven. Her coach told us that he usually needed to teach girls to be aggressive, but that had never applied to Rachel!
“Judo continued apace, but in September 2017 she told us she wanted to switch sports to rugby. We were concerned that she was giving up her place in the Scotland senior judo squad having only just recently returned from a year out with a shoulder injury.
“However, she loved rugby from her first session and has worked so hard at it ever since that day.
“Her first XVs cap was in Italy, we weren’t there, but we did see it on television and really loved the photo she sent of her in her first cap.
“It really hit us more a few weeks later that she was a full internationalist when she got her first start at Scotstoun against Canada. Singing the national anthem in the stand was so emotional for her entire family who had turned up to see her.
“There have been so many highlights since then following her career, but Angus, Rachel’s dad, particularly remembers her scoring a try at the Commonwealth Games sevens and what a moment that was.
“And I am proud of how she managed to combine studying for her degree and pursuing her rugby career which often proved to be challenging, but she made it work.”
As well as Hazel and Angus, Rachel’s sister Fiona and brother Calum head along often to support her, especially at Scotland home matches while one of her uncles is going to the Ireland Six Nations match on April 26 at Hive Stadium.
“Off the pitch Rachel is funny, energetic, sometimes chaotic, sociable – she likes nothing more than a coffee or brunch date! – spontaneous, kind, caring and empathetic,” Hazel continued.
“On the pitch, Rachel is always looking to challenge herself and improve her rugby.
“We’ve travelled to see her play from her first start at Scotstoun, to her time with Sale Sharks and more recently to Montpellier where she is now playing her club rugby.
“We admire her courage in making the move to France and Rachel loves it out in Montpellier and we love visiting her there and having French and Italian players, who are her friends, visiting us here in Scotland.
“We have followed her rugby journey with immense pride, including how she’s handled the ups and downs of injuries and rehab – her determination and resilience have allowed her to achieve so much.
“Rachel says she wants to be remembered in her rugby career as a nuisance on the field for the opposition.
“We think she achieves that and hope that she will continue to enjoy doing so for many years to come.”
The Guinness Women’s Six Nations runs from March 22 to April 26 and, next up at home, Scotland are at Hive Stadium in round five versus Ireland on the final day – get tickets here.
Rachel McLachlan and her family are pictured – thanks to them for the images
GH Media will be covering Scotland women’s journey right through to Rugby World Cup 2025, bringing insight from within the camp throughout and featuring other parts of the game in this country too – thanks to those already supporting the content, if you or your company would like to get involved please email gary@gh-media.co.uk