GAME IN FOCUS

Sarah Rendell takes a weekly look at some important women players

Saracens forward Sonia Green got into rugby as her teacher in sixth form believed both sexes should play all sports.

That meant girls played rugby and boys played netball. As soon as Green hit a tackle bag she was encouraged to take up the sport and she’s been playing ever since.

Green – known as ‘Sonic’ – had always been involved in sport, competing at county level in athletics and being the captain of the netball and basketball teams at school. She credits her background in different sports as to why she is so good at rugby.

“Anyone who knows me as a player, knows I pride myself on my fitness,” she says. “I’ll put my body on the line and be the person to make that last ditch tackle. That comes from athletics. When I was about 13/14 my coach got me in the gym lifting and taught me how to look after my body. My sporting background is about resilience and never giving up.

“I think coming from a working class background and having to have resilience growing up, those values and skills that rugby align with were perfect for me. Team sport kept me on the straight and narrow. It gave me a purpose and focus in school.”

The 38-year-old keen surfer, who is a vice principal at Saracens High School, played for Colchester and Sudbury before landing at Saracens 20 seasons ago. She went to Loughborough University but stayed at Sarries, travelling over 100 miles for training, due to the family feel the club has. The former England player recently competed in her 300th match for the club, the first women’s player to do so.

“I never in a million years thought I would reach 300,” she adds. “The build-up to it and everything after has been incredible. The club made me feel very special. That could have come and gone if it wasn’t for everybody being so thoughtful, the club really promoted it. “Lucy Wray (Saracens chief executive) came with Ben Earl and Gordon Banks (chief community officer at Saracens) into school and presented me with my shirt. It’s that Sarries family feel. Everyone made it really special.” Green has been playing throughout the huge development of women’s rugby this century. “It’s brilliant and amazing,” she says. “I have been asked about it so many times and we’ll be in a great place when I’m not asked about it. It may not be in my rugby career but it will be great when it’s not a question anymore.”