Laura’s Story

I started playing rugby in my second year of university where I was studying for a BA in Physical Education with qualified teacher status. I soon fell in love with the game and the new family I had gained. When I had finished university I moved back home where I had been lucky enough to find a job at King Ethelbert School in Birchington, Thanet. I was keen to carry on playing rugby but I also wanted to meet more like minded people. I joined Canterbury rugby club in September 2005, the same month as I started my new job. Just like my university team they were warm and welcoming and I soon made some lifelong friends.

Being part of a sport's team has allowed me to become a confident and resilient person. I carry these qualities into teaching and the pupils, in particular the girls, can see me as a role model. People are always surprised when I tell them I play rugby as they tend have a stereotyped image in their head of what a female rugby player looks like. Challenging this view among young people makes them more excepting of others.

Rugby and teaching really have played a massive part in creating who I am today.