ENGLAND WOMEN’S SKIPPER MCLEAN EYES EASTER SUNDAY DOUBLE HEADER
Dean Richards’ men take on Saracens in the Aviva Premiership at Kingston Park (kick-off 3pm), but before the blood and thunder Easter Sunday clash, Darlington Mowden Sharks and England fly-half Mclean will coach the Falcons Ladies side alongside fellow teammate Tamara Taylor.
South Shields-born Mclean, 28, who balances her rugby playing exploits with her job as a primary school teacher at the Bexhill Academy in Sunderland, insists the ladies spectacle is a great opportunity to showcase the game to a wider audience in the build-up to this year’s Women’s World Cup.
“It’s great to see the women’s game getting the recognition that it deserves this weekend, and I’m really looking forward to the occasion,” said McLean, who was speaking from her England training base in Portsmouth.
“With the Women’s World Cup taking place in August it is also fantastic exposure for the sport. There is a good pool of women’s players throughout this region, so it will be good to see the latest crop of talent on show – Saracens will be a tough test for the girls but I’m sure that we will do well,” she added.
McLean, a recipient of an MBE in the New Year’s honours list, began her route into the game at the tender age of five when her father David inspired her to pick up a rugby ball. It was apparent from the outset that Mclean had the credentials to go far in the game and with England international and former Falcon Davey Wilson as a teammate in the under-11s side, the South Shields club flourished.
“I played mixed rugby with Davey and it was a good path into the sport for me,” said Mclean.
“It was just unfortunate that I had to stop playing when I was 12 when mixed rugby is no longer allowed. I was very frustrated as I had to then watch the games from the touchline which wasn’t easy.
“Thankfully I had the chance to play in a tag tournament a few years later and that pretty much launched my route towards playing for England,” she added.
Recalling her days on the terraces at Kingston Park watching her rugby idol Jonny Wilkinson take to the field, Mclean admits she modelled her game on the England legend.
“My dad had a big influence on my decision to take up the game, but Jonny Wilkinson was also a huge inspiration for me and I remember watching him play for Newcastle,” said Mclean, who made her England debut in 2007.
She added: “His kicking, creativity and professionalism were characteristics I really admired and as an aspiring No.10 I took note. His work ethic is on another level and when I’ve spoken to him for advice he’s been down to earth and very easy to chat to.
“Dan Carter is another world class fly-half I enjoy watching and he is prominent in his position in the centre of the park.”
England Women have been pitted with Canada, Spain and Samoa in Group A of this year’s Women’s World Cup held in France. Keen to erase the pain of losing the 2010 final against New Zealand, Mclean added: “The ultimate dream is to lift the World Cup and preparations in the camp are going very well. It’s a big year for us and hopefully we can achieve our goal come the end of the year.”
The ladies game is free to watch when purchasing a ticket for the men’s game by calling the Falcons Ticket Hotline on 0871 226 6060 or [click here][1] to snap up yours online.
[1]: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/newcastle-falcons/details/event.aspx?itemref=2539