Players / My World

Catherine
Spencer

/ Worcester and England

Born in Ashford, Catherine Spencer became England captain at the tender age of 27 after playing a pivotal role in consecutive Grand Slam successes in 2006 & 2007, as well as helping England to a World Cup Final. Don’t know what her Worcester teammates think of Spence being a massive Bath fan though…

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I couldn’t wait to go and play minis rugby I started kicking a ball around with my two brothers in the back garden when I was 4 before joining Folkestone when I was 8. I was planted out on the wing - I think they were concerned about me really getting stuck in because I was a girl.

 

Once the boys found me at the bottom of the ruck I became one of the lads I was quiet to start with, but I just loved running around in the rain and getting muddy.

 

I won the Most Improved Player of the Year award It was my first trophy I was 11 and I remember catching a really high kick and running most of pitch to score a try. It obviously wasn’t a full size pitch, but it's the one moment my brothers and my dad recall from my early rugby days.

 

That’s why I give up Sunday’s and go to training I don’t play for the glory, I play because I enjoy it. I’m not a trophy hunter. I’ve got a few but they are mostly at my parent’s house packed away in boxes. I’m fairly modest so I tend not to put them on display.

 

I think Sebastien Chabal is fantastic. He’s a massive impact player so I try and follow him a little bit. I took a lot of inspiration from watching Lawrence Dallaglio and Martin Johnson and the way they commanded respect from people around them.

 

I had a little chat to Frank Bruno I went to the Sports Personality of the Year show and he was really funny, just like on television. Most of the famous people I’ve met are all rugby players. I do get start stuck but I try not to show it because I am an international sportsperson as well, and I’ve worked hard to get here too.