The lock Abbie Ward has played in two Rugby World Cup finals, won several Six Nations titles and was one of the first Red Roses players to be awarded a professional contract, but says returning to the pitch for her country after giving birth to her daughter Hallie will be one of her greatest achievements after “the hardest road” back.
Ward, who turns 31 on Wednesday, gave birth last July and returned to play for her club, Bristol, in November. She scored in her first game back, a 48-5 win over Sale in the Premiership Women’s Rugby. After the match she said her next goal would be to get back into the England squad which she achieved when the new head coach, John Mitchell, named a training camp in January. She was then included in the team’s 2024 Women’s Six Nations squad and has been selected to start in England’s opening match against Italy on Sunday.
“I have 61 caps but pulling on an England shirt this time will be one of my greatest rugby achievements,” Ward says. “Yes I have played in World Cup finals, I have captained, I have won grand slams but I think this has been the hardest road to wearing an England shirt. It makes you appreciate it even more.
“After injuries and getting your first cap you appreciate it. But having to start at ground zero and work [my] way through a really, really tough squad where the rugby is now unbelievable – I definitely will not be taking it for granted.”
Ward last played for England in the Rugby World Cup final in 2022 where the team lost 34-31 to New Zealand. She says it has been a long wait to “right some wrongs” from that result but says her daughter has been a good distraction. “I think having Hallie and that time away, it gives you perspective,” Ward says.
Hallie has been in the England camp as Ward and the team prepare for the Six Nations. Ward has been able to introduce her daughter to her teammates and she has been the centre of attention. “She absolutely loves it,” Ward says of Hallie. The England camp is also a good experience for her daughter, Ward says. “I feel very privileged to bring Hallie into an environment that is full of so many strong women. For her to potentially grow up in that environment and around these girls is huge. They are all unbelievable role models as well. I feel very lucky to share that experience with Hallie.”
Ward was the first contracted England player to give birth during her career and she felt passionately about sharing the journey publicly in order to raise awareness for current and future players. As part of that she is releasing a documentary with ITV called “Abbie Ward: A Bump in the Road”, airing next week, which shows her return to play.
“I always thought it was important to vocalise the journey,” Ward says. “I don’t think there has been that awareness from certain sports or definitely [not] the men’s sports that this was a thing that was happening, that players weren’t able to have a family and play professional sport at the same time. A lot were retiring.
“I wanted to put a spotlight on it to ask difficult questions and also answer questions for other players. I went into it, I guess, not really knowing what it would look like as there hasn’t been another player in England to go through it. I want to make sure the next girls who decide to start families understand what it could look like for them. One thing I have wanted to put out there as well is I have been very ambitious in terms of my return but I haven’t wanted to put pressure on anyone, not everyone has to do that. I think the great thing with the [Rugby Football Union maternity] policy is it is down to the individual.”
Ward is now focused on the Six Nations and has re-entered the England camp to find the programme has improved since she last played. “There’s a lot of new staff, a lot more staff,” Ward says. “The programme as a whole has taken a noticeable leap forward in terms of how it is run. The players too, the squad and the depth and the talent, which is really exciting.”
England are favourites and if they lift the trophy it will be for the sixth consecutive year with France again their main rivals for the title.
The other nations will first be looking for progression in terms of performance and results. Wales have been closing the gap on France and England over the past few years but will want to reflect that on the scoreboard after losing 39-14 to France and 59-3 to England in the 2023 Six Nations. Scotland, meanwhile, recorded their first back-to-back wins in the tournament for 17 years last year and will aim to compound the progress.
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins), Abby Dow (Trailfinders), Helena Rowland (Loughborough), Emily Scarratt (Loughborough), Jess Breach (Saracens), Zoe Harrison (Saracens), Lucy Packer (Harlequins), Hannah Botterman (Bristol), Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol), Kelsey Clifford (Saracens), Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury), Abbie Ward (Bristol), Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough), Marlie Packer (Saracens), Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury).
Replacements: Connie Powell (Harlequins), Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury), Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), Maddie Feaunati (Exeter), Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury), Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury), Holly Aitchison (Bristol), Megan Jones (Leicester).
Italy took a slight back step, finishing fifth for the second successive year. The team will want to avoid the bottom two spots and add more wins to their tally. Finally, Ireland’s new head coach, Scott Bemand, said they are aiming for a top-three finish. The team picked up the wooden spoon in 2023 and Bemand’s ambition would require an incredible uptick in results.
The curtain raiser will see France host Ireland on Saturday before Wales take on Scotland and the defending champions, England, travel to Italy. Ward is alongside other returning players in Zoe Harrison and Emily Scarratt for their opener and the captain, Marlie Packer, will win her 100th cap. The camp are blocking out the favourites’ tag: “It’s about keeping our eyes on ourselves, our processes and our gameplan, controlling what we can control,” Ward says.
