Firefighter, mother, tattooist: three rugby part-timers on their sacrifices to live a World Cup dream

Canadian rugby player Olivia DeMerchant pictured with fellow members of the Halifax Fire Department. Photograph: Courtesy of Halifax Fire Dept

When the women’s Rugby World Cup starts next week 512 players from 16 squads will have a chance to represent their country on the sport’s biggest stage. It will be a proud moment for all but perhaps none will deserve it more than the part-timers who have to juggle playing rugby with jobs outside the sport to make ends meet.

Among many diverse life stories are the tales of three props: the Canadian firefighter Olivia DeMerchant, the Brazilian tattoo artist and animator Samara Vergara, and the Samoan property manager and mother of four Denise Aiolupotea.