Rugby star backs girls' sport after World Cup win

Lark Atkin-Davies used to play rugby at Luctonians in Leominister every Monday night

Rugby star Lark Atkin-Davies has recalled how the help she received during her school years in Herefordshire turned her into the player she is today.

Atkin-Davies was part of the Red Roses squad that celebrated World Cup glory after England beat Canada in the final at Twickenham at the weekend.

Speaking to BBC Hereford & Worcester, she said it was "so important" that girls had the same access to sport that she enjoyed.

Just days after England's win, she said she was still "on cloud nine" and had spent 48 hours celebrating, and it had not yet sunk in.

The former Worcester Valkyries champion said she had to hold back tears going into the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, because of the sheer numbers of fans.

"I don't think there's ever been a moment like it," she said. "The massive thing that gets me ready for the game is singing the anthem, and just to hear so many people booming around a sold-out Allianz, all singing the national anthem, it was amazing."

The rugby star, seen here in the semi-final, is still on cloud nine after England's win

Atkin-Davies, from Orleton, Herefordshire, which is near Ludlow in Shropshire, went to Orleton Primary School, before moving to Wigmore High School in Leominster.

She later trained as a teacher and worked at Kingsland Primary School in Leominster.

She said she was introduced to tag rugby while she was at primary school, and her PE teacher at Wigmore High School, Vicky Jones, was a "massive" influence in her development.

She has previously told how she was inspired to get into rugby after watching England play when she was aged 10.

Atkin-Davies has thanked the people who helped her develop as a player

"Not every girl gets the opportunity to go and play rugby on a Monday night but at Wigmore we had that opportunity," she said.

As a schoolgirl, she enjoyed the facilities at Luctonians, a sports club with a focus on rugby, based at Leominster's Mortimer Park.

"We were taken to Luctonians to go as a group of us," she said. "Those are the things that that we need. For girls in schools and for all children in schools to be able to access sport is so important."

Atkin-Davies also thanked Kingsland Primary School for helping her juggle teaching with her rugby career.

"Those people I'm really grateful for and thankful for, for the part that they played," she said.