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.
