A game-changing moment for women’s rugby in England occurred in July 2016 when the Rugby Football Union announced it was to award full-time contracts to its best female 15s players, following the example of sevens.
Few top-level sportspeople contemplate going professional in their mid-30s but for England’s most-capped player, loose-head prop Rochelle "Rocky" Clark, the decision to sign on the dotted line came easily.
“It's going to make a big difference to me because I've been doing two or three training sessions as my recovery. Previously, I've been going off to coach and personal train people etcetera and I could be on my feet for hours. It's great that I can actually go and put my feet up properly,” said the 35-year-old veteran of 117 tests.
SMALL MARGINS
It was Sir Clive Woodward who said that by doing 100 things one per cent better, England would become world champions. He was true to his word, of course, in 2003 and Clark shares that philosophy.
“I think having this professional contract is just going to add the one percenters, which should all hopefully add up and give us that extra step up I guess in the new year.
“Games are a lot closer now, often settled by a try or a score, and it’s going to be all those little margins that make the difference. Hopefully by us being extra squeaky on what we've done, it's going to help us to get into the final and defend our title.”
REASSURING PRESENCE
Clark is now in her 14th year as an international and was a member of the England side that beat Canada to win Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 in France.
With her passion for the game as high as when she first donned the white jersey in 2003, the Worcester player hopes to be part of this year’s tournament in Dublin and Belfast.
“I think I can sort of bring a bit of calm and help the youngsters who haven't been through it before, letting them know what to expect with the tight turnarounds and managing big crowds and things like that.”
GRINDING IT OUT
Drawn in Pool B alongside USA, Italy and European qualifiers Spain, England would expect to make the semi-finals at WRWC 2017.
But Clark knows from first-hand experience that winning five straight games is no easy task, especially as other teams will be gunning for the reigning world champions.
"I think we've got the potential to do it, it's just whether we realise our potential. It's going to take a huge grind from everybody for the next eight months.
"We're going to have to really grow and develop our game and I think we've probably got the right tools to do it so, fingers crossed, we should be there or thereabouts.”