Former Ludlow College student Lark Davies makes England under-20 rugby debut

Former Ludlow College student Lark Davies makes England under-20 rugby debut

12:00pm Thursday 18th July 2013 in Sport

RISING rugby star Lark Davies made her international debut for England U20s on Sunday in a tough loss against Canada in the Nations Cup.

While the 43-15 defeat – the second loss of the tournament for an inexperienced England squad – is not how Davies imagined making her England bow, the individual significance of the accomplishment was not lost on her.

It realised years of hard work and dedication for the former Ludlow College student, who replaced fellow Worcester Warriors hooker Lucy Aylesbury, with 60 minutes to go.

“It was amazing,” said Davies.

“When I was younger I used to say I would play rugby for England – but when I started at Worcester I never really imagined I would be playing for my country at 18.

“After the competition it will sink in.”

Part of a new generation of women’s rugby players who started at a young age, Davies’ debut was years in the making.

Having started playing tag rugby – as “one of the only girls who wanted to play” – she progressed through Hereford’s Greyhound club to Worcester U18s. That Worcester side produced five of her team-mates on Sunday – and Davies added it was nice to have people she knew in the squad.

“I’ve been in England camps before but the pressure you feel playing is quite amazing,” said Davies.

That pressure will undoubtedly go up another level when the team face USA, needing a bonus point win for a chance of making the final.

Davies is backing herself. She said: “I was pleased with how I played.

“There’s competition between the three hookers in the squad but I want the starting job.”

This drive and “absolute determination” will come as no surprise to her coach at Greyhound, and later at Worcester U18s, Pete Williams.

Williams has guided full internationals Isabelle Noel-Smith and Laura Keates along a similar route and, in Davies, he sees the same mentality.

“They have all come to the game as youngsters,” said Williams.

“Lark moved across to Worcester and she became captain within a year.

“She would come in during the summer running lots of drills – she worked hard at everything she did.”

Williams added: “Girls come to the game for different reasons but the ones that make it to the top all have that determination in them.”

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Former Ludlow College student Lark Davies makes England under-20 rugby debut