Eastern Counties Rugby Union

Anna Goddard has been selected for the England Touch Rugby Women’s squad for next year’s World Cup in Australia.

The 16-year-old former Newmarket player, who is at Hartpury College, Gloucester on the Achieving Academic and Sporting Excellence (AASE) Rugby Programme, is in a squad of 26.
Anna, who said she was “absolutely delighted” by the news, played in the England under-18s at the European touch tournament in Swansea earlier this year, where they finished runners-up to Wales.
The former Ely College pupil started playing rugby at Ely RFC aged six, before switching to Newmarket RFC at 12 to join their girls team.
Mum Nicky is assistant first team coach at Newmarket, as well lead coach for Eastern Counties’ girls, and an assessor for both England and Eastern Counties.
Anna, who started playing touch rugby three years ago in Cambridge, is currently out of action. She is doing strengthening exercises for back and hip problems, and is not allowed to run.
The England squad will take part in training camps in November, after which it will be cut to 20, 16 to travel and four as non-travelling reserves.
The World Cup will be held in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales in April/May next year, dates which could clash with Anna’s A-level studies.