The Harvard graduate hoping to ace the Rugby World Cup

Cheta Emba made her debut for the USA in 2015

Women's Rugby World Cup: England v United States

Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland Date: Friday, 22 August Kick-off: 19:30 BST

Coverage: Live on BBC One, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sport website and app

As someone with a degree in molecular and cellular biology from Harvard University, Cheta Emba took an analytical approach to fulfilling her dream of becoming an international sportswoman.

Football initially appeared to offer her most likely route on to the global stage, having earned a place as a goalkeeper in the academy of National Women's Soccer League side Washington Spirit.

But it was during her time at university that she learned all about a new sport – one that has seen her go on to become an Olympic medallist.

"I'm Nigerian-American and part of my hopes and aspirations were to play at the international level," the 32-year-old, who is part of the USA squad for the Women's Rugby World Cup, told Newsday on the BBC World Service.

"That's always been a dream of mine.

"It would have been really cool to represent either the United States or Nigeria."

Having chosen the USA, Emba will now get her chance to step into the limelight as the Eagles face hosts England in the World Cup's opening match.

'A very typical African household'

Born in Richmond, the state capital of Virginia, to Nigerian parents, Emba is one of four siblings instilled with traditional African family values.

"One thing that I've been raised in is, if you're going to do it, do it well. See it through," she explains.

"My parents really pushed education first and everything else was secondary.

"As long as I did what needed to be done in the classroom, I could be outdoors as long as I wanted.

"It was a very typical African household."

Applying those values earned Emba her place at Harvard, one of the world's most prestigious universities based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

She began her four years there playing as goalkeeper for the women's football team, but would soon find herself wrapped up in the physical joys of rugby union.

"Some of my room-mates were on the rugby team and had kept mentioning that I should come out, I'd really like it," she remembers.

"As a full-time goalkeeper, I was itching for a bit more movement through the legs. So during the off season, I thought it might be a good chance to explore."

Perhaps surprisingly, she was "lulled into it" by training sessions in the snow – something her team-mates called 'snugby' – in which the cold, powdery conditions lessoned the impact of the tackles.

"As a goalkeeper there's a bit of contact, but the referee is there to protect.

"But in rugby, everyone's taking a hit, so that was a bit of mindset shift for me."

Having proven to be a hit herself, the prospect of playing international sport soon helped make up her mind about whether or not to stick with rugby.

"The coaches were really encouraging and supportive," she says.

"Being invited to the national team camps, and doing my research on the game, and getting more and more excited at seeing the sevens version of the game as well, I just realised that there was an opportunity.

"And if I went for it and put everything behind it, maybe there was a chance that this dream could come to fruition."

Olympic bronze at Paris 2024

Emba was part of the USA team which won its first Olympic rugby medal at Paris 2024

While Emba was not selected for the USA sevens squad for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, she was picked for the 2017 World Cup in Ireland.

She started all four games at full-back as the Eagles were eliminated by New Zealand in the semi-finals, scoring tries against Spain and England in the group stage.

Her Olympic debut came at the delayed 2020 Games in Tokyo, where there USA finished sixth, but she then missed out on the 2021 World Cup in New Zealand.

The high point of her career undoubtedly came at last year's Paris Olympics, when the USA beat Australia in the bronze medal match.

"It's been a long time coming," says Emba, who believes that victory will "boost the sport in the United States".

"[It will] also show women, girls, even boys, men, whoever, that this is a sport for all, no matter your body type, your skillset.

"One of the beauties of rugby is that you uncover a different type of strength than you might realise you had."

Her achievement in Paris also helped settle any remaining reservations Emba's parents might have had.

"They were definitely a bit nervous, a bit apprehensive initially. Rugby is not necessarily the biggest sport in the United States, let alone Nigeria.

"So at first they weren't quite sure what I was getting into. But when you add the context of the Olympics and the national team and they started seeing me competing on the world stage, they really got behind me."

Rugby with the stars

Based on the team's warm-up matches heading into the World Cup, Emba could well find herself lining up on the wing next to the biggest name in women's rugby, Ilona Maher.

The Bristol Bears centre, who last year finished as runner-up on the American TV show Dancing with the Stars, is a social media sensation with millions of followers and a powerful advocate for body positivity.

Emba herself believes the way rugby allows women to embrace physicality can only be a positive thing.

"In a society that touts women as being more meek or gentle – yes, you can be those things – but you can also be strong, you can also be fierce, you can also compete, you can also hit hard and run fast, just like the boys."

In 1991, the USA won the first Women's Rugby World Cup, and Emba says her side wants to make its own mark on history.

"Podium of course," is her response when asked how high the Eagles hope to soar in England.

"To be in the final would be incredible, to win it would be the highest prize. But we are taking it step by step."

Rugby has allowed this scientist with Nigerian roots to live out her dream of playing international sport, taking her all over the world.

Her aim now is to conquer it.