by Green Abbie Ward played in two Rugby World Cup finals, won several Six Nations titles and was one of the first Red Roses players to be awarded a professional contract, but says she is returning on the field for her country after giving birth to her daughter Hallie. one of her biggest achievements after “the hardest road” back.
Ward, who turned 31 on Wednesday, was born last July and returned to play for his club, Bristol, in November. She scored a goal in her first game, a 48-5 win against Sale in the Women’s Rugby Premiership. After the game she said her next goal was to get back into the England squad which she achieved when new head coach John Mitchell named a training camp in January. She was then included in the team’s 2024 Women’s Six Nations squad and has been selected to start in England’s final against Italy on Sunday.
“I have 61 caps but pulling on the England shirt this time will be one of my greatest achievements in rugby,” says Ward. “Yes, I’ve played in World Cup finals, I’m captain, I’ve won a grand slam but I think this is the hardest road to wear an England shirt. It makes you appreciate him even more.
Related: ‘Great achievement’: Marlie Packer to win 100th cap for England
“After injuries and getting your first cap you understand it. But after starting at ground zero and working [my] a way through a really tough squad, where the rugby is unbelievable now – I certainly won’t accept it.”
Ward last played for England in the 2022 Rugby World Cup final when the teams lost 34-31 to New Zealand. She says it’s been a long time coming to right “some wrongs” from that result but she says her daughter has taken a lot of care of her daughter. “I think Hallie and that time away gives you perspective,” says Ward.
Hallie is in the England camp with Ward as the team prepares for the Six Nations. Ward was able to introduce her daughter to her colleagues and she was the center of attention. “She loves it,” Ward tells Hallie. The England camp is also a good experience for her daughter, says Ward. “It’s a great privilege to bring Hallie into an environment full of strong women. It’s huge for her to grow up in that environment and around these girls. They are also all incredible role models. I am lucky to share that experience with Hallie.”
Ward became the first contracted England player to give birth during her career and felt passionately about sharing the journey publicly to raise awareness among current and future players. As part of that she is releasing a documentary with ITV called “Abbie Ward: A Bump in the Road”, which will air next week, which shows her return to playing.
“I always thought it was important to communicate the journey,” says Ward. “I don’t think that awareness was from certain sports or definitely [not] men’s sports that this was something that was happening, that players could not have a family and play professional sport at the same time. Many were retiring.
“I wanted to put a spotlight on him to ask difficult questions and answer questions for other players. I went into it, I think, not knowing what it was going to look like because no other England player was going to go through. I want to make sure that the next girls who decide to start a family understand what could be in store for them. One thing I also wanted to put out there was that I was very ambitious about my return but I didn’t want to put pressure on anyone, not everyone has to do that. I think the great thing with the [Rugby Football Union maternity] the policy is up to the individual.”
Ward is now focused on the Six Nations and has returned to the England camp to find that the program has improved since she last played. “There are a lot of new teams, and a lot more teams,” says Ward. “The program as a whole has made significant progress in how it is run. The players too, the squad and the depth and the talent, which is very exciting.”
England are favorites and if they lift the trophy it will be the sixth year in a row with France once again the main contenders for the title.
The other nations will be looking for progress first in terms of performance and results. Wales have been closing the gap on France and England in recent years but will be looking to show that on the scoreboard after losing 39-14 to France and 59-3 to England in the Six Nations in 2023. Scotland, meanwhile, recorded their first back-to-back wins in the competition for 17 years last year and will be aiming to build on the progress.
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins), Abby Dow (Trailfinders), Helena Rowland (Loughborough), Emily Scarratt (Loughborough), Jess Breach (Saracens), Zoe Harrison (Saracens), Lucy Packer (Harlequins), Hannah Boterman (Bristol), Lark Atkin -Davies (Bristol), Kelsey Clifford (Saracens), Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury), Abbie Ward (Bristol), Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough), Marlie Packer (Saracens), Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury).
Replacements: Connie Powell (Harlequins), Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury), Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), Maddie Feaunati (Exeter), Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury), Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury), Holly Aitchison (Bristol), Megan Jones (Leicester).
Italy took a slight step back, finishing in fifth place for the second year in a row. The team will be looking to avoid the bottom two points and add more wins to their tally. In conclusion, Ireland’s new head coach, Scott Bemand, said that they are aiming for victory in all three. The team picked up the wooden spoon in 2023 and Bemand’s ambition would require an incredible rise in results.
France host Ireland on Saturday, before Wales take on Scotland and defending champions England travel to Italy. Ward joins other returning players in Zoe Harrison and Emily Scarratt for their opener while captain Marlie Packer wins her 100th cap. The camp is rejecting the tag of favorites: “It’s about keeping our eyes on ourselves, our processes and our game plan, controlling what we can control,” says Ward.
