Rugby players and clubs hope for Lionesses moment

England have been top of the world rankings since November 2020

As England kicked off their Women's Rugby World Cup tournament with a 69-7 win over the United States, players and grassroots clubs have spoken of their hopes that the team can have a similar impact to the Lionesses.

The Red Roses ran in 11 tries at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Friday night.

They have developed a winning formula on the pitch and it is hoped a home tournament will bring new fans to the sport and encourage more girls to try rugby.

England scrum-half Natasha "Mo" Hunt said winning the tournament in front of family and friends would mean "absolutely everything" and the team "don't want to let this moment pass us by".

Former PE teacher Hunt, who used to work at Graham Balfour School in Stafford, said the team had worked "incredibly hard", last losing a match in the 2022 World Cup final in New Zealand.

The 36-year-old was omitted from the squad for that tournament, but since then has regularly become the starting scrum-half in John Mitchell's new-look team.

England scrum-half Natasha Hunt said the team had "huge opportunity" on their hands

Hunt, from Gloucester, said the World Cup - in which England are heavy favourites - was a "huge opportunity" to make sure they were "putting women's rugby on the map".

"There's been a lot of people that have worked incredibly hard to get to this point," she said.

"It would mean absolutely everything to us, not only to do it, to win a world cup, but also to do it in front of your family and friends and your whole nation would be incredibly special."

Among other players pulling on the white-and-red shirt is Lark Atkin-Davies, from Orleton, near Ludlow, who scored two tries on Friday night.

The 30-year-old began her rugby career at Luctonians in Leominster and is a former Worcester Valkyries captain.

Lark Atkin-Davies was inspired to get into rugby after watching England play as a child

Speaking to BBC Hereford and Worcester, Atkin-Davies said she was inspired to get into rugby after watching England play on TV, when she was aged 10.

"When I was a teenager, I started to really get into a rugby a little more and watched the 2010 world cup, which was a home world cup," she said.

"I think that's really what sparked that - I really want to play for England, I want to go and represent my country," she explained.

The England hooker, who recently signed a two-year extension to stay with Bristol Bears, said it had been "quite a journey" to get to a place where she was a "full-time professional".

"It's something I always dreamed of - now that's it reality, I love what I do," she said.

Jade Shekells told the BBC wearing the England kit with her name on it was a "pinch-me moment"

With the home advantage, England fans hope the Red Roses will lift the trophy on 27 September, but they face stiff competition, particularly from the likes of defending champions New Zealand, as well Canada and France.

Among those watching at local rugby clubs will be Lindsey Garroway, chairwoman of Bridgnorth Women.

Ms Garroway said her club was "really really excited" for the tournament and spoke of how great it was to see the sport being promoted.

'Creates dreams'

She said the success of the Lionesses in women's football, had helped "bring forward women in sport".

"That can only be seen as a positive thing for all women's sport as well," she added.

Speaking to BBC Radio Shropshire, Ms Garroway said the Bridgnorth team had doubled in numbers recently following a successful season, and teams had also started up in Shrewsbury and Newport.

Seeing local players go on to play for England "creates dreams for people," she added.

"It's really great to see there are so many opportunities for women in Shropshire and girls in Shropshire to play rugby."

International women's rugby has enjoyed a huge rise in popularity in recent years.

The biggest crowd England attracted for a Women's Six Nations game in 2019 was just 4,674, while the 2022 World Cup final was watched by a crowd of 42,579.

Yet this year's final at Twickenham, with an 82,000 capacity, is already a sell-out, with organisers saying they could have sold it out two or three times over. Matches also being broadcast on the BBC and iPlayer.

Telford's Lilli Ives Campion is the youngest member of the England squad

Another player included in the Red Roses squad is Worcestershire-born Jade Shekells, who has already played in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

The England centre, from Droitwich, played for Worcester before joining Gloucester-Hartpury at the start of this season.

But it was wearing the England kit with her name and roses on it that was the real "pinch me moment," she said.

"I think you kind of have some of those pinch-me moments, I think sometimes you can just all get caught up in it and it's a bit of a whirlwind and you forget like where you are," she said

"The Olympics and the Commonwealths, I think you just kind of forget just to take a moment, if that makes sense."