We can emulate Lionesses’ success at the World Cup, says Aldcroft
WORLD Player of the Year Zoe Aldcroft reckons the Red Roses can replicate the success of England’s Lionesses and cap a stunning year of women’s sport with a World Cup triumph.
After the support across the country during England’s historic Euro 2022 victory, the Gloucesterhartpury second row is confident the nation’s women’s rugby stars will feel as much love when they venture to New Zealand to contest the sport’s ultimate prize.
Before their opening fixture against Fiji on October 8, Aldcroft and co have one last chance to impress on home soil with warm-up fixtures against USA and Wales.
Ashton Gate will host international rugby for the first time when Wales make the short trip along the M4 on September 14 – and Aldcroft, 25, hopes that Simon Middleton’s side will whet the appetite of Red Roses fans old and new prior to their journey
Down Under.
“I think it’s really great that they’re in two different spots,” said Aldcroft, speaking ahead of the Bristol clash, where discounted tickets are available with O2 Priority.
“To get the crowd down at Exeter, which has been amazing in the past and then a new place where we’ve never been before in Bristol, we’re hoping we can expand our support network.
“As a nation, we’re very good at getting behind our sports teams and encouraging our players. The better they do, the more support they get. The support behind the Lionesses was amazing and hopefully we can get that support for the Red Roses out in New Zealand.”
Two experienced campaigners bound to play a key role in England’s bid for a third World Cup triumph are Sarah Hunter and Emily Scarratt, Aldcroft’s heroesturned-teammates, a pair she idolised in her teenage years.
Now it’s the Gloucesterhartpury
ace who is asked to pose for pictures with fans at matches, though Aldcroft finds that hard to believe.
“Every time a little girl comes up I think, why do you want a photo with me? I’m just a normal person,” joked Aldcroft. “A few people have said we’re trailblazers because we are at this stage where it’s growing so rapidly.
“In the next like five to 10 years, I think it’s going to be massive. I think if we keep performing well on the pitch, then people will be more interested in watching and we can actually prove that the standard of our game is of a high quality and that we have our own style.
“And the amount of young girls that we see in the crowd, it’s amazing to think that they’re aspiring to be like us. Hopefully they go back to their clubs saying, ‘I want to be like that player.’
“And they can see it, which is something that I didn’t have when I was growing up. It’s amazing to be a part of this transformation.”
Aldcroft is one of seven
Gloucester-hartpury players in Middleton’s 35-player squad ahead of this weekend’s match against the USA in Exeter, alongside Sarah Beckett, Alex Matthews, Maud Muir, Connie Powell, Tatyana Heard and Natasha Hunt.
Wales went down 31-3 to Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Saturday. Gloucester-hartpury centre Hannah Jones captained the side, which included clubmates Cara Hope and Beth Lewis in the starting XV, while Kelsey Jones, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Siwan Lillicrap, Lleucu George and Caitlin Lewis came off the bench.
Ireland, with Gloucesterhartpury hooker Neve Jones in the side, lost 29-10 in the second Test against Japan to tie the series 1-1.
England Rugby’s women’s team, the Red Roses, play their final warm-up game against Wales at Ashton Gate, on September 14. Be part of the action with discounted Category 1 tickets with O2 Priority. For more information, visit englandrugby.com/about-rfu/ rfu-partners/o2