Talented rugby player Catherine Chaplin (Year 8) and some of her team from Hitchin RFC were selected to be the guard of honour when England women took on Italy last Saturday at the Bedford Blues Rugby stadium.

Before the game, she trained with England and Bedford Blues coaches before taking her place to welcome the teams onto the field. The welcome must have worked as England went on to win the game convincingly in front of a sell-out crowd. After the match, she managed to get many autographs from her heroes!

Earlier this year, Catherine won the U13s national tournament with Hitchin RFC. She began playing mini tag rugby six years ago and has progressed through to the U13s girls team at Hitchin RFC, where she is the team captain. She has been playing full contact in the front row position for a couple of years now and  would be happy to talk to any girls interested in taking up rugby as she is keen to help girl's rugby to continue to go from strength-to-strength.