Medway’s Rachael Burford named in England Women’s Six Nations team
by Harry Peet
England Women’s rugby announced four uncapped players in their squad for the Six Nations tournament in February.
Coach Simon Middleton named Bianca Blackburn (Worcester Valkyries), Lark Davies (Worcester Valkyries), Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) and Leanne Riley (Aylesford Bulls) in the team.
One player who will be looking to put an arm around those new additions is Medway’s Rachael Burford.
The 30 year-old centre made her 60th appearance for the Red Roses last year and has her sights firmly set on making 2017 a big year.
She said: “We’re definitely one of the top teams in the world and we have a great team who have the potential to grow and get even better.”
A big boost to the team’s chances this year is the introduction of professional contracts for 48 of women’s players, including 16 full-time contracts. This gives the players the chances to receive paid contracts as fully-fledged professional players.
Rachael said: “The contracts mean that for the first time ever we’ll be training together as a full squad of 30 which will be brilliant to set a platform going forward.”
Despite being one of the more experienced members of the England squad, she never forgets where it all began at Medway Rugby club.
She said: “I remember my dad would be playing at the club on a Saturday, my mum would be playing on a Sunday and my sister on another day. It wasn’t until I was six that I was able to join in with them.”
The name Burford is synonymous with Medway Rugby club and if you mention the name to anyone in the rugby community, the Rochester-based club is the first thing that comes to mind.
Now, she has a 2014 World Cup winners medal to her name as well as England women’s player-of-the-year award from the same year.
She said: “Every time you pull on the shirt it’s really special and I’ve been privileged to have done that 60 times. It’s impressive to hit that kind of milestone.”
The current England crop will be looking to impress in the Six Nations that starts on 3 January before the World Cup in August, 11 years after Rachael’s first cap- also at a World Cup.
“There was only two of us that were uncapped and I remember being there and starting in three of the games. It was incredible and such a surreal moment.
“Because of the technology my mum and dad had to watch on a tiny screen. When I came back to the club in Medway they had a World Cup welcoming party for me and I gave them my first shirt.” She said.
With the Six Nations and a tour to New Zealand coming up for the Red Roses, Rachael and her team will be fully prepared to try and retain their World Cup title in Ireland in the summer.
