Rugby star and World Cup winner Abby Dow retires aged 28

Dow finishes her England career with 50 tries from 59 Tests

Rugby star Abby Dow is retiring from the sport at the age of 28.

The winger was part of England's World Cup-winning squad, who took home the World Cup after beating Canada on home soil.

Abby says she's excited for different chapters in her life, and is "ready for the next move".

Which for her, is transforming from a rugby winger to a mechanical engineer! She completed her degree at Imperial College London in 2020.

Try-scoring and crocheting

After her debut in 2017, Abby went on to score 50 tries in 59 caps and seven Six Nations titles, including six Grand Slams.

But it's not just rugby skills that make up Abby Dow, her personality and sense of humour has shone throughout her rugby career.

Off the pitch she's become known for her crochet, puns, and silliness - her brother even dresses up in costumes of the teams England play against!

This summer at the World Cup, England fans quickly got onboard with the other love in Abby's life - crochet!

There was "yarnbombing" artwork in Northampton and loads of crochet in Twickenham.

Dow's first England game was against Canada in November 2017, the same team she faced in her final match

England head coach John Mitchell says "we are losing arguably the best right winger in world rugby at the peak of her powers, but we fully respect her decision to move on to a new chapter".

But Abby says "it's never a goodbye to rugby".

She hopes that in the future she'll play again, just for fun!