The importance of Helena Rowland to the Red Roses squad at this Women’s Rugby World Cup was underlined emphatically by head coach John Mitchell before the warm-up win over Spain. That outing at Welford Road marked the 25-year-old 40th Test cap in her fifth different position, the right wing joining fly half, inside centre, outside centre and full-back as slots which the Loughborough Lightning Swiss Army Knife has capably filled. During this tournament, she’s even practiced her box kicking to provide emergency cover as a fourth scrum half should disaster strike.
"Helena is 'Miss Versatility' – full-back, wing, centre, 10 and probably fourth nine as well," Mitchell explained. "She has that skillset to play that role.
