England legend Rocky Clark wants to emulate her ‘proudest coaching achievement’ by leading Buckinghamshire to another Gill Burns County Championship title this weekend.
The 2019 Division 2 champions are back at Twickenham for their latest shot at lifting a coveted trophy, against a Lancashire side looking to complete a double for the county, with their men’s side in action in the Bill Beaumont Championship final later in the day.
Both sides won three from three in the pool stage, with Lancashire beating Leicestershire, Yorkshire and the North Midlands in Pool 1.
In Pool 2, Buckinghamshire got the better of Surrey, Gloucestershire and Berkshire under the guidance of Red Roses stalwarts Clark and Sarah McKenna.
Clark said: “We are absolutely delighted and having been there four years ago and won it, we are hoping to emulate that again in Division 1 of the Gill Burns County Cup.
“It was my proudest coaching achievement, and all the girls are fired up and ready, we are just super excited about a fantastic day of rugby.
“It is very different being a coach to a player but I still feel the excitement, the heartbreak and the highs and the lows of the team.
“It is massive, we know how strong Lancashire are and what a threat they are going to be.
“They will bring it and there is nothing bigger than a final, especially at Twickenham, the home of rugby.
“We are coming down for the whole weekend and I am also commentating on Saturday, so I will basically be living there.
“The girls are just super excited.”
Lancashire are no strangers to the big occasion themselves and are preparing for their third final in ten years.
Team manager Mike Dale has helped his side go unbeaten this season and now he believes his side can excel on the big occasion.
He added: “We have had a good run in really, it has not been too bad whatsoever.
“Any team coached by Clark and Sarah McKenna isn’t going to be a pushover.
“There are some people who have been there, and that will give us the experience on the day.
“The stadium should not be the factor, but it will be what it will be and we are expecting a very physical encounter.
“The players are all really excited and ready for the encounter, it is for us to keep them as level-headed as they can be.
“The girls have got to cherish the day and take everything they can from it, but we will try and make it as normal as we possibly can.”
Whatever the result, both teams will enjoy the experience of walking out at Twickenham and former England captain, Gill Burns, after whom the tournament is named, is urging the players to savour every moment.
“Twickenham is the best stage in the world to play rugby and this Sunday is going to be a huge day,” she said.
“From the excitement of going down that iconic tunnel and running out on to the pitch to playing in front of their families, friends and club members, the players involved will make wonderful memories that they’ll always treasure.”
The Bill Beaumont Senior Men’s County Championship Division 1 Final and the Gill Burns Women’s County Championship Division 1 Final will take place on 28 May at Twickenham Stadium. The finals for Divisions 2 & 3, as well as the Jason Leonard U20s Final, will take place across the weekend of 3/4 June at Ealing Trailfinders. All the finals will be livestreamed via the England Rugby YouTube channel.
Sunday 28th May – Twickenham Stadium
1030h – Gill Burns Division 1 Final
1400h – Barbarians v World XV
1600h – Bill Beaumont Division 1 Final
Saturday 3 June at Ealing Trailfinders – Bill Beaumont Division 2 Final & Bill Beaumont Division 3 Final
Sunday 4 June at Ealing Trailfinders – Gill Burns Division 2 Final, Gill Burns Division 3 Final & Jason Leonard U20 Final
To keep up with the latest County Championship fixtures and results, visit EnglandRugby.com and follow @RFU on Twitter
With thanks to the RFU
