World Cup winner Danielle 'Nolli' Waterman has revealed a conversation with Wales rugby legend Shane Williams proved pivotal in helping her stick with her commentary career amid online abuse.
Former England full-back Nolli, 37, earned 82 caps over 15 years, scored 47 international tries along the way, won seven Six Nations titles and featured at four World Cups to lift the trophy in 2014. She also played Sevens at the Olympics, and was nominated for world player of the year before retiring from Test duties in 2018 and then hanging up her boots altogether in 2020, going on to pursue a post-playing career in media and commentary.
But after making her men's Six Nations commentary debut in the postponed rounds during autumn 2020 - alongside ITV's Miles Harrison and Gordon D'Arcy for Ireland v Italy - Nolli became the subject of intense online abuse and hostility. That was despite having previously commentated in the women's game and men’s European rugby, and boasting a level-four rugby coaching certificate, not to mention her stellar elite career. Her stomach churned as she scrolled through the sexist tweets - "get rid of the woman commentator", "she doesn't understand rugby" and "ITV’s decision to have a chatterbox woman as part of the commentary team is stupid. She’s irritating and irrelevant" were among the attacks. She felt crushed, and even considering walking away.
