Reflecting on the blooper, Malins joked about his lack of suitability for suave gestures, "I re-enacted it at home recently and my knee did exactly the same thing. I just think my knees are shot. The reverse lunge is not my thing."
Despite the hiccup, Malins managed to impress Ella, who despite her background in corporate finance and a stint on reality TV, knew little about rugby. Their connection deepened rapidly after a chance interaction on Instagram led to a first date and quickly evolved. Malins appreciated the simplicity and genuine nature of their relationship, undisturbed by the pressures of his rugby career.
Malins' international rugby career, in contrast to his personal life, has been a road marked with sporadic highs and notable lows. Despite playing 22 times for England, he feels his performances never truly reflected his potential, especially as he often played on the wing, a position he feels less accustomed to.
"I look back and I never really feel like I played my best stuff for England. Lots of my game time came on the wing which I wouldn’t say is my natural position."
His career highlight, earning a spot in the World Cup squad, was overshadowed by a disappointing performance against Chile in what he refers to as a "World Cup turkey shoot." The fallout from that game lingered, casting a shadow over his subsequent participation and leading him to question his future at the international level.
After the World Cup, the mental and physical demands of top-level competition had taken their toll, leaving Malins drained and detached. "I remember we had to be back for supper on a Tuesday evening and I honestly couldn’t eat supper in the meal room. I had to go up to my room," he recalled.
Now, with a wedding on the horizon and less emphasis on his England career, Malins has found a new sense of peace. He's shifted his focus from international rugby's relentless demands to enjoying his club commitments and personal life.
"Before, when you are playing games and you have camps coming up, it is in your mind that you want to get into that England squad. Obviously, I’ve absolutely loved that but I have the feeling that time may have passed."
As Malins prepares for his wedding in Suffolk next summer, his thoughts on rugby are clear. Though he treasures the memories and honors of his England caps, he embraces a future where his best performances might just happen off the field, in life's personal victories rather than on it.
