Lightning star gets boost from nationwide funding initiative

LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning’s Emma Hardy has big ambitions in the world of rugby and now those dreams have been boosted thanks to a nationwide funding initiative.

The Backing The Best programme, managed by SportsAid for Sport England, aims to support athletes who would face difficulties progressing through their sport’s talent develop- ment system without financial help.

Now in its third year, Loughborough College student Hardy is one of 115 athletes being helped across more than 30 sporting disciplines.

And while she may not have immediately taken to the sport at her first attempt, the 18-year-old has no doubt where her future lays.

“Rugby’s quite big in my family any- way, my dad was always in to it,” said Hardy, speaking at a Backing The Best workshop at Loughborough University.

“I play centre for England Under-20s. I want to play for England 15s, it would be amazing, but I am doing a bit of the sevems stuff as well at the moment throughout the summer.”

Backed by £5.5 million of National Lottery funding over a four-year peri- od, Backing The Best presents annual awards of £5,000 per athlete to help with essential costs.

• Backing The Best is helping young talented athletes facing the greatest financial pressure to pursue their sporting ambitions. The programme, managed by SportsAid for Sport England, is supported by National Lottery funding. Please visit www.sportengland.org/our-work/talent/backing-the-best/ for more information.