'Follow me on Instagram': Zackary keeps it coy over club future

Kate Zackary may have ended her time with Trailfinders Women, but does that means she’s ending her time in Premiership Women’s Rugby?

“Who knows? Follow me on Instagram,” is the flanker’s answer.

For now, Zackary has international duties and winning her 50th cap with USA Women’s Eagles on her mind. The club season may have ended, but the Trailfinders captain is heading to South Africa for the Eagles’ back-to-back tests against the Springbok Women at Ellis Park and Loftus Versfeld.

The 36-year-old ended her time in Ealing by leading Trailfinders out for their first PWR Final. There was no fairytale ending as Saracens emphasised their favourites tag with an eight-try showing in their 52-14 win at the Twickenham Stoop.

Zackary has been with Trailfinders since their inaugural season in 2023/24, having joined from Exeter Chiefs, so she is well aware of the huge steps the team have made in their three years in existence. Despite the loss, she is confident that they can build on this season’s success with the players who will come in to fill the void she leaves.

“It is a team who’s diverse,” she said. “It’s a team who’s exciting, and it’s a team who’s going to continue to grow and become one of the best, because now we’ve got a target on our backs.

“We’re no longer building and growing from seventh place, we’re walking away in second place, which is an amazing place to be. We’re at the top of the mountain now, and people want to come take us down, so why not be a part of that group?”

Zackary was part of an all-international back row against Saracens alongside England’s Abi Burton and Haidee Head. For good measure, Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm returned from injury and featured for the final 20 minutes from the bench.

There were also Black Ferns regulars Georgia Ponsonby and Alana Borland, Canada’s Maya Montiel, who scored Trailfinders’ first try, and Scotland second-row Emma Wassell. The fact Trailfinders head coach Barney Maddison chose her as captain ahead of the others speaks volumes for the effect Zackary has had on driving standards in the team.

“She’s an amazing leader,” Ponsonby said. “She speaks with her words, but even more with her actions. I think she’s created a special bond with the group. She’s been here for a few years, is highly respected in the group, and I think the group’s going to really miss her.

“Kate’s going to be a big loss, but what she’s achieved in the three years that she’s been here is huge.”

Saracens showed the experience of their five previous finals to claim a first title since 2022. With Zoe Harrison, England’s Player of the Year, and Olivia Apps, PWR Player of the Year, pulling the strings, and World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year Sophie de Goede combined with Marlie Packer in her final Saracens match to lead the pack. Sunday’s result made it three wins from three over their London rivals this season.

Trailfinders were four tries down by half-time after they failed to capitalise on good field position, and then conceded a fifth to Jess Breach straight after half-time. Montiel and Burton forced their way over in the second half to ensure their fans had something to cheer.

Despite the overwhelming nature of Saracens’ win, Zackary was her usual all-action self in the number seven jersey and made 12 tackles and nine carries. She was also the emotional heartbeat of the side, exerting on her teammates and the Trailfinders fans throughout the 80 minutes.

“Today was a testament to the resiliency you’ve seen in the team all season,” she said. “We didn’t expect to be here pre-Christmas. We wanted to be here, anticipated being here, but we didn’t expect it. As the Spring went on you saw the resiliency and the ability to bounce back, and that was the testament again today.

“That second half was so much better. We stopped focusing on what Sarries do. We started focusing on what we do well, getting after them, starving them of possession, things like that, playing front-foot rugby, like we love. One of the things I like the most is the ability of the girls to bounce back in when they’re in the most adverse times.

“Walking off that pitch at half-time, I didn’t want to talk about another Sarries person in a huddle ever again, we just had to get back to us. That’s when we put our best rugby out. We focused on ourselves, we talked about the good things we’re doing, actions we’re going to do, and that was kind of our reset at half-time.

“Coming out that second half, and what you saw, was we scored and as we got more confident, we celebrated more, we connected more, and that’s the team you want to see.”

While Zackary won’t be part of Trailfinders future, the club is determined that this year’s final isn’t a one-off. Whether Zackary’s six years in the PWR are over or not, she knows where her now ex-team-mates should look to take the final step.

“It’s playing with more ego,” she said. “Before half-time Saracen’s were the team, they’ve had consistency, they play with an ego.

“It’s not a bad thing, is it? To be proud and confident in yourselves. At times I think we’re a little bit too nice. It’s taking what’s already really good and special, and just having a bit more ego and edginess about us.”