It’s a strange business for England women’s rugby players, that 49th cap
The memorable target of 50 caps has proved elusive for England players in recent years.
Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt had a long patient build-up to her half-century. But when it came, against Italy at Bedford last November, it received the trumpet-call it deserved.
Other players have had to wait much longer, the reception has sometimes been muted and one or two have been left stuck one short.
Amber Reed has suffered a sequence of injuries in recent seasons. She reached 49 in the last game of the 2018 6N match in Coventry, after missing the first three of the series. So she had to wait for another season, just like team-mate Katy Daley-Mclean, who was sitting on 99!
It was Amber’s misfortune that the first game she was fit for was the Barbarians clash at Twickenham. She certainly won’t have minded turning out there, but it was a non-cap match! When her big day finally arrived, the event took place in far away San Diego. The England management had the bright idea of inviting her mother to present her with that 50th cap. Mother could have imagined travelling less far to mark the occasion.
Other chance events can affect your day. You can’t tailor it to fit the fixture-calendar. As with Amber, it may take place far from home, where the applause may be polite but less enthusiastic.
There was a remarkable double at the Kingspan Stadium Belfast for the great World Cup semi-final between England and France. Both Marlie Packer and Harriet Millar-Mills posted their 50th caps. They shared the applause as the rest of the team hung back. But Packer was a starter, Millar-Mills was not. So Harriet had to wait 71 minutes to come on to the field and enjoy the occasion properly. Neither David Flatman nor I could understand why she didn’t start the game.
Another variation of the 49-cap theme concerned Mo Hunt’s pal, Kay Wilson. When she took part in the final of that same World Cup four days later, only she and a few people around her knew that this was to be her swansong. She had decided to retire at the age of 26. But she was present to witness Mo’s great day two years later.
Rowena Burnfield didn’t retire: she’s still playing a full part in Richmond’s programme. She first played for England in 2008 and went on to gather – of course – 49 caps. The good news is that she is recalled to the 2020 squad, a huge achievement in a 13-season international career. By a delightful coincidence she joins Vickii Cornborough on that mark, so both have the chance to see up their half-century this season.
Next in line to reach 49 – and 50 too, surely – are Amy Cokayne (on 46 and still only 23!) and Lydia Thompson (on 45). Let’s hope they go sailing past.
As with so many of these statistics, injury and selectorial whims can make a big difference to the final number of caps a player obtains. But it reminds us what a colossal achievement it is to reach not just 50, but 100 caps for your country. Next in line for the century is Emily Scarratt, but she must wait a while. She sits on 85.
