Cumbrian farmer gets England rugby call-up

Last updated at 13:35, Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Farmer Julie Hope is preparing to do battle on a very different field of dreams after being selected for England women’s rugby team.

The former Carlisle Cougars full-back or wing will make her debut in the Nations Cup in the USA.

England head to Denver as defending Nations Cup champions and face games against Canada, USA and South Africa.

Hope will swap the tractor she drives on her family farm at Lorton, near Cockermouth, for a rugby ball.

Up until last season the 28-year-old played for Carlisle Cougars, but now plays for Women’s Premiership club Darlington Mowden Park.

Hope, who has already played for England Sevens, is one of four late call-ups for the Nations Cup after players pulled out, and will be among 11 making their debut.

Carlisle Cougars coach Josh Holmes, who also plays for the men’s first XV, believes his former player will light up the international stage.

“She is a good lass, who is very strong defensively and strong attacking, which is a great combination,” he said.

“When she first started she wasn’t very confident in her skills but, once she got her confidence, she was unstoppable and would run around people.

“Once she learned her position and what she could do, no one could match her.

“She is one fast learner, and I would say she is reaching the top of the game now.”

Hope’s rise to the pinnacle of the game has been swift as it was only in February that she was selected for the North in the RFU Women’s Divisional Programme in Scarborough, followed by a series of inter-regional matches.

She then attended England Sevens trials in London in April and impressed selectors with her pace and skills.

She was selected to play in the England development team, which recently won the Bournemouth Sevens Festival.

Her performance resulted in selection for the national side for a tournament in Marbella last month.

First published at 13:34, Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk

Cumbrian farmer gets England rugby call-up