RACHAEL BURFORD

THE LACK of visibility in women’s rugby hit home for Rachael Burford during training sessions for her eponymous academy. Mention the likes of Maggie Alphonsi and Emily Scarratt when demonstrating skills and she was met by blank faces and the question: Who?

“It broke me,” she says. “These girls are playing the game, they’re the future, but they don’t know the stars of the women’s game. It was a bit of a wake-up call.”

That’s where), as well as face-to-face sessions run by women’s internationals. England fly-half Katy Daley-Mclean could hold a workshop in the North of England, Australia Sevens star Sharni Williams may do the same Down Under and the past year has shown that sessions can also be held over Zoom.