England rugby star visits her grassroots club

An England rugby star has returned to visit the grassroots club where she played as a teenager.

Saracens and England winger Jess Breach paid a visit on Wednesday to her former team Pulborough Rugby Football Club in West Sussex.

Ms Breach, who is originally from Chichester, chatted to girls who aspired to being rugby stars of the future.

The winger said: "When I was younger I didn't think rugby could be my job and now these girls have a chance of doing that."

Jess Breach played at Pulborough for a couple of years from the age of 16.

During that time the club were national champions.

She said: "It's really nice to come back here and see how far the club has grown and how many girls are coming along.

"It's really nice to see the growth of the women's game."

Ms Breach was part of the successful England team which won the Six Nations tournament last month.

She said of her visit to her home club: "It was incredible to see so many girls wanting to ask questions, being so keen and just wanting to get better."

She was joined on the visit by Harlequins centre/winger Izzy Mayhew, from Billingshurst, who also started her rugby journey at the club.

Ms Mayhew said of her friend: "I'm really proud of her and I just love watching her do her thing - like she used to do alongside me here at Pulborough.

"She does so well and I love watching her score those tries."

The visit to West Sussex was part of a tour of community rugby clubs around the country by the Red Roses as part of the celebrations of England's Six Nations success.

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