Aldcroft set for World Cup opener

Scarborough’s Zoe Aldcroft will be hoping to help England get off to a winning start at the World Cup against Fiji this weekend.

The Red Roses are favourites to win a third World Cup, and they kick off against Fiji at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday (4.45am ko), with World Rugby Player of the Year Aldcroft set to be a key player for England in the tournament.

Aldcroft, speaking during the summer, said: “I think as a nation, we're very good at getting behind our sports teams and really encouraging our players. The better they do, the more support they get. The support behind the Lionesses was amazing and hopefully we cangetthatsupportfortheRed Roses out in New Zealand.”

“Every time a little girl comes up I think, why do you wantaphotowithme?I’mjusta normalperson,”jokedAldcroft.

The ex-Scarborough RUFC junior added: “A few people have said we’re trailblazers at the moment because we are at this stage where it's just growing so rapidly. In the next like five to 10 years, I think it's going to be absolutely massive.

"I think if we just keep performing well on the pitch, then people will be more interested in watching and we can actually prove that the standard of ourgameisofahighqualityand that we have our own style.

“And the amount of young girls that we see in the crowd too, it's amazing to think that they're aspiring to be like us oneday.Hopefullythey'regoing away to their rugby clubs saying,‘Iwanttobelikethatplayer.’

“And they can see it, which is something that I didn't have when I was growing up.

“It'sjustamazingtobeapart of this transformation.”