Helen shocked her parents in her teens by “announcing that she was going to play rugby”, her mother said “I nearly had a heart attack, I couldn’t get my head around it, I’d grit my teeth and watch, just worrying in case there was an accident.”

Helen’s parents watched as she joined the women at the Sudbury-based London amateur club, following in her father’s footsteps. Recalling the women to be a novelty to begin with, but always a close-knit team, well supported within the club.

Helen gained the first of a clutch of caps during the 1994 World Cup, scoring in front of a crowd of 3,000 against Scotland. However at scrumhalf Helen faced fierce competition with the likes of Emma Mitchell, Susie Appleby and Jo Yapp dominating the English scene.

This has done little to dampen her enthusiasm for rugby at Wasps, this year she has led from the front, enjoying promotion to Championship South One. The team has been inspired by Helen’s game knowledge and vocal control of the team.

The zimmer frame is a rather ironic present for an athlete who completed her first half marathon this weekend in a very impressive sub two hour time. She regularly joins in the physical challenges she sets the inmates, as a prison-based physical training instructor. Helen is keen to plough her time back into rugby through coaching and refereeing. With her first outing on Wasps’ turf as a referee this season being the Middlesex vs Surrey under 15’s girls match.

Tour has featured as a key aspect of Helen’s life at wasps, visiting all corners of the world, numerous short trips to Europe, including Belgium, Holland and France and farther afield to Australia and South Africa. Helen shared in the pride of being the first female team to play at the beautiful Stellenbosch university grounds, where Wasps were warmly welcomed by the South African Rugby Union. Helen especially enjoys the Judge role of a seasoned graduate on tour.

The club awarded Helen the privilege of Vice-Presidency, during the 20th anniversary celebrations, following a testimonial game that was sworn to be the last.
Fellow Waspie Shelley Rae will argue that her delivery is second to none. Players around her are always amazed that her diminuitive figure belies an athlete who can tackle and ruck as well as any forward.

Helen’s Friday night speech spoke of a club that she loves, a great club, with greatness in store for the future. As she stood and rallied her troops, it was evident that H will be around for a few years yet.

If you would like more information about Wasps Ladies, please contact Colette McCarthy on colette_mccarthy@hotmail.com / 07961312471