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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Ben Hart

From grassroots to glory: How National Lottery funding has played a key role in developing women's rugby throughout the UK

National Lottery Rugby Maggie Alphonsi United Kingdom England Covid-19 Wales World Cup Rugby Union WRU

The sorcerer and her apprentice have joined forces to cheer on the home nations at this month’s Women’s Rugby World Cup and celebrate the role National Lottery funding has played in developing women’s rugby from grassroots to elite in the UK.

Former Welsh women's rugby union player and now Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) Female Age Grade Lead, Liza Burgess, was previously a teacher in North London and spotted the untapped potential of then teenager Maggie Alphonsi, who went on to win the World Cup with England in 2014, and the rest as they say is history.

Before announcing her international retirement in 2014, Alphonsi represented her country an impressive 74 times, scored 28 tries, won a World Cup, and helped England win a record-breaking seven consecutive Six Nations crowns.

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