I was a little late in going to university. I worked in London for three years and then, in 1984, I secured a place at the University of Hull at 21 and studied BSC in Nursing Sciences. It was here, in Hull, that I first encountered my passion. I clearly remember walking through the auditorium trying to be signed up for the netball team, the women's rights group, the chess club and then I saw these young women dressed in rugby gear and wondered what they were up to. They wouldn't let me pass and said “you have to come to training.” I did think they were a bit odd but then I always like to push the boundaries where gender and feminism were concerned, and also doing things to sometimes shock my parents.
I turned up at training the following Wednesday afternoon and that was it, from the first time I touched the ball. I loved the student rugby scene and the game was awesome - it didn’t matter if you were tall and thin or shorter and 'stocky' like me - there was a role and position for all.
After university from 1988-1991 I worked as a nurse and spent some time overseas. I met a young townie from Cambridge and moved up to that part of the world. I was nursing at Newmarket Hospital so we bought a house close by, and for a year or so my rugby career took a break. Then our relationship didn’t work out, and I decided that I wanted to study further and got a place at Homerton to complete my PGCE. This took me into teaching and back into rugby - so if it wasn't for Homerton…who knows.
I remember my first session on a dark, dimly lit Grange Road ground. I felt like I was climbing into a comfy slipper - picking the ball up again, tackling someone into next week and taking on a tough scrummage session - I was in heaven! I also played for a local club side Shelford Ladies and the combination of the prior experience and the local experience meant I was noticed quickly and got selected for the Light Blues to play in the Varsity game of 1991. During this time I was also selected to Captain the England Students 1st XV at Iffley Road against Scotland.
So I was getting noticed on the women’s rugby scene even though I was a little late to the game. I was 30 by now but I had a burning desire to see how far I could go, how much I could push myself, mentally and physically. As an 'average' child, to discover I love something and was good at it was a dream come true. I continued to live in Cambridge after graduation and spent some time coaching the next group of Cambridge Uni women. One weekend I travelled to London for divisional trials. Back then, there were areas of South, North, London and Midlands divisions and from there the senior England squad were picked. Although this was beyond my wildest dreams I felt I had to give it a go.
I remember turning up at the rugby club and there were hundreds of women ready to show their skills and be their best. I was so nervous. I didn’t know anyone, but I knew these were some of the best players in the country, and I wanted a part of this. So when the coach called out "Right, get into groups of five," I rushed to be in a group which included the women I recognised. I knew the coaches would be looking at these players, so if I was going to get noticed, here was my chance.
It worked! I was absolutely shattered, physically and mentally trying to keep up with these women, but from there I got selected for the London Division. I was encouraged to move to Saracens, in North Finchley, in 1993, so for over a year I worked and lived in Cambridge at Cottenham Village College and drove down and back twice in the week and stayed over at the weekends with anyone who would put me up. Until I decided I really was getting serious - I wanted to play for England.
I was selected for the wider training squad and was over the moon. I still didn't really have much idea about what I'd have to commit to. I clearly remember my first cap against Wales in Canada at the 1993 Canada Cup, closely followed by another battle against Wales. We even had to sew our numbers on our shirts before the game - I was glad I was number one as I wasn't much good at sewing. All of our disposable income went on kit for both training and playing, sports bras (until we got our first sponsorship by Berlei!), petrol and keeping my old car going.
I ended up not being selected for the 1994 World Cup squad and was absolutely gutted. I thought it was all over. I moved to London, got a teaching job and spent the next few years playing, training and touring. I went on an amazing tour to New Zealand with Saracens in 1994 and absolutely fell in love with the country. In June 1997 I gave up my job completely to train full time. I realised that the competition was younger and fitter and I had to do something drastic to make my dream come true. I managed to get Lottery funding and I believe was the first female to be paid for full-time rugby, allowing me to train twice a day.
I was selected for the 1997 England tour to New Zealand (falling in love all over again with the country) and in May 1998 I was off with the squad to the Netherlands for the first officially sanctioned RWC. It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. To be so connected with a group against the rest of the world was hard, fun, intense and I was a little lost after it was all over. In December 2001 having retired officially from England and Saracens I left the UK for a six month trip back to Aotearoa, New Zealand.
21 years later I am still in NZ, having spent some time coaching men in Wellington. As a result I connected with an amazing man who was an ex-player and has now been my husband of 19 years.
I often reflect on my amazing time in Cambridge, the connections you make and keep are truly rewarding and long-lasting. To know now that the Bursar is Deborah Griffin, one of the key players at the beginning of the journey in England for Women’s Rugby is just fabulous.
I look at the players now and am so thrilled after my experience of being 'professional' over 20 years that they are now contracted, paid to play, supported as a group through their training and also given the chance to study. I hope they sometimes may think of the early days and what we as players went through laying a path for them to tread all these years later.
I have learnt so much through Rugby - the highs and lows, ecstasy of winning, playing well, and the agony of losing or not getting selected - but it was an absolute adventure for someone who never thought I'd have this kind of experience. The team work and the individual commitment is beyond measure.
