Ella Fowler (aged 15) eats, sleeps and breathes rugby – it is her world!
Ella and Ivy with Meg Jones
The Women’s World Cup will be the highlight of Ella’s whole year. She is a Red Roses fan through and through and one day she hopes to be on that grassy stage herself – we hope to be there to cheer her on.
Ella’s goal for this World Cup is to support as many nations as possible and show how amazing women’s rugby is.
Midway through the tournament Ella will turn 16 so her family have set themselves a challenge to get her to as many games as possible to give her the best present imaginable. The Fowler family have booked tickets for 13 games, which will cover all 16 teams – meaning that Ella will get to see every nation play. Over the course of the tournament they will drive 2,000 miles and spend upwards of 30 hours on the road, visiting 5 stadiums. An incredible feat!
Over the past year Ella has been collecting shirts and now has 12 out of 16 (she is missing Italy, Fiji, Japan and Brazil). Some of the shirts Ella has bought herself, others gifted to her or given to her by players she has spoken to personally.
Ella and Ivy with Aoife Wafer
At each World Cup game Ella takes a shirt for each side and changes at half time so both nations are supported – to celebrate these incredible women.
Ella’s total shirt collection numbers 28, comprising international shirts, PWR and 7s (I hope she has a big bedroom).
Accompanying Ella and her mum and dad on this World Rugby journey is younger sister Ivy (9) who also plays rugby – how could she not!
Ella has been playing rugby since she was 4 years old, her grassroots club is Norwich Wildcats, they play in the Eastern Counties Conference League. They also play in the National Cup and last year finished in the top 16. Last season she was also selected for Eastern Counties and hopes to repeat that this season.
As a back row (either 6, 7 or 8) Ella’s favourite players are Red Roses Meg Jones and Maddie Feaunati, Ireland’s Aoife Wafer and Black Fern Jorja Miller.
Ella and family will travel from Norwich to Twickenham for the record breaking final to complete their World Cup adventure – whoever is taking part it will be an amazing experience.
As well as kudos to Ella for being a Red Roses Superfan, I think the Fowlers really deserve a ‘Parents of the Year’ Award for dreaming up this incredible adventure and giving their rugby mad daughter the opportunities of a lifetime!
