Born on May 24 1994, in Inverness, Helen Nelson has become a pivotal figure in Scottish women’s rugby, breaking into the top 10 most-capped Scotland women’s players of all-time.

Helen’s rugby journey began at the age of six when she started playing rugby at Lochaber Rugby Club.

In addition to rugby, Helen also played shinty in Ballachulish, football at school, and was a member of the Scottish Alpine Ski Team from 2009 to 2012, showcasing her diverse athletic talents.

While pursuing a degree in Geophysics and Meteorology at Edinburgh University, Helen balanced her academic commitments with her passion for rugby. She played for the university team and was an integral part of a successful Murrayfield Wanderers side, contributing to their league and cup double in 2016/17.

It was in that season that Nelson earned her first Scotland call up, joining the team for the 2016 Six Nations, where she made her debut against France at Broadwood Stadium.

A highlight of her international career came in the 2018 Six Nations Championship, where she scored eight points, including a try and a penalty, leading Scotland to their first away victory against Ireland.

Later that year, Helen was among the first eight players to receive a professional contract from Scottish Rugby, marking a significant milestone in her career. She then advanced her career by joining French Top 8 club Montpellier, gaining valuable international experience. She later joined Loughborough Lightning in the PWR, where she played for the last five seasons before joining Trailfinders Women in the summer of 2026.

Over the last 10 years, Nelson has been a key figure for the Scotland side, competing in multiple Six Nations tournaments, as well as the Rugby World Cup 2021 and 2025.

Helen was not the first in her family to make it as an international rugby player, with her auntie, Clare Hoppe, a member of the first-ever Ireland Women’s team whose inaugural international came, coincidentally, against Scotland.