The BIG Interview: Emily Rudge
Hello and welcome to HeRLeague, your home for all the women's Rugby League action and reaction.
One of the regular features I want to feature on the site involves big interviews with some of the main people connected to women's RL. For our first interview, you can't get much bigger than a national team captain. With this in mind, please welcome to HeRLeague, Emily Rudge of St. Helens and England.
Hi Emily, thank you for joining me on HeRLeague. First of all, how did you get into playing Rugby League? At what age did you decide you wanted to play the game?
'I got into Rugby League at primary school when I was ten years old. A teacher asked me to go along to a mixed tag tournament because they needed a token girl to enter a team. I really enjoyed playing tag and won the girl of the tournament award so I thought I would carry on and played for my school team and then my dad took me to the local under-11's boys team and absolutely loved it!'
Who were your Rugby League heroes when you were growing up?
'I didn't really have any RL heroes when I was growing up as I didn't know of many women who played rugby. Back then it wasn't in the media at all. I went to watch Warrington Wolves play when I was younger and really loved the atmosphere and being at the games.'
Before the introduction of the Women's Super League what opportunities were available to women and girls to play the game?
'Before the Women's Super League we played as part of WARLA (Women's Amateur Rugby League Association). I started playing for Warrington's ladies open age team when I was 16 and then the team merged with Thatto Heath (they had younger girls teams but no open age while we had open age but no younger teams) and I played there until I joined Saints for the Super League. There was still an England talent pathway and I have been lucky enough to be part of that since 2008 when I was 16. There are a lot more opportunities now for women and girls to play Rugby League.'
Have you experienced a tangible impact on the women's game since the recent increase of exposure?
'More women and girls are playing the sport which is exactly what we need to grow the game. Since the birth of the Super League we also have a much bigger following of spectators that turn up to our home and away games which is great for the players and creates a real buzz on matchdays. The game is definitely going in the right direction as we have been paid to play on the last two England international tours.'
In terms of the 2020 season, Saints will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of semi-final defeats to Leeds in both the Challenge Cup and the Play-Offs. Is the target for this year to overcome those setbacks and depose the Rhinos?
'Yes definitely, Saints are a brilliant club to be a part of and we have a great team of girls. We need to get over the hurdle of the semi-final defeats and it's definitely our goal to win some silverware this season. I'm confident that if we perform to the best of our ability that we have a strong enough team to achieve this.'
Are there any fixtures you're particularly looking forward to playing this season?
'I'm looking forward to coming up against Castleford in the first game of the season and then Leeds. They're the top teams from last year and those games will be great indicators as to where we are at.'
You're the captain of the England team and you have represented your country for over ten years. Do you feel a different buzz playing for your country as opposed to playing for Saints?
'I am immensely proud to captain my country and it is a huge honour to pull on the England jersey. I feel extremely lucky to have been able to play on the world stage against the best players in the world. and it is what drives me to constantly try to be better so I can continue to compete at that level. That said, I love my club and I enjoyed playing for Saints last season more than I ever have and I'm buzzing for 2020! My goal this year is to help Saints get to a final and win some silverware.'
What are the plans for the women's national team in 2020 as we look towards the 2021 World Cup? Are you going to follow the men's team's lead and have a crack at the Australians?
'The plan was to play against the Australian women's team in line with the men, however I don't think they will be coming over at the end of the year due to financial reasons. Instead I think the plan is possibly to play France now that we know they aren't in our group for the 2021 World Cup. Nothing has been set in stone yet and there are no confirmed plans but it will be great to have a run out this year to prepare us for the World Cup.'
On the topic of the World Cup, is there a level of excitement amongst the players knowing that there is a possibility of playing in a tournament on home soil?
'Yes, all of the players are massively excited with the prospect of playing for England on home soil. Some of the players in the current England team, including myself, were part of the 2013 World Cup which was hosted in England. It was absolutely amazing to play in front of friends and family and the atmosphere for every game was electric. With the women's game growing now much bigger than it ever has been before, we are hoping that the following for the 2021 World Cup will be the best yet.'
Finally, do you have any personal goals or targets that you hope to achieve over the course of the next couple of years?
'My focus for this season is to play well in the Saints shirt and help the team to a final and win some silverware. I hope to continue to captain my country and be part of the squad that is selected for the 2021 World Cup. They are my main goals for the next two years and I am working hard to make sure I can achieve them.'
That brings our chat with Emily to a close, I must thank her for taking the time to speak to HeRLeague. I hope you enjoyed the interview and will join us next week when we'll be talking to teenage Leeds Rhinos superstar Caitlin Beevers.
Until next time, take care.
One of the regular features I want to feature on the site involves big interviews with some of the main people connected to women's RL. For our first interview, you can't get much bigger than a national team captain. With this in mind, please welcome to HeRLeague, Emily Rudge of St. Helens and England.
'I got into Rugby League at primary school when I was ten years old. A teacher asked me to go along to a mixed tag tournament because they needed a token girl to enter a team. I really enjoyed playing tag and won the girl of the tournament award so I thought I would carry on and played for my school team and then my dad took me to the local under-11's boys team and absolutely loved it!'
Who were your Rugby League heroes when you were growing up?
'I didn't really have any RL heroes when I was growing up as I didn't know of many women who played rugby. Back then it wasn't in the media at all. I went to watch Warrington Wolves play when I was younger and really loved the atmosphere and being at the games.'
Before the introduction of the Women's Super League what opportunities were available to women and girls to play the game?
'Before the Women's Super League we played as part of WARLA (Women's Amateur Rugby League Association). I started playing for Warrington's ladies open age team when I was 16 and then the team merged with Thatto Heath (they had younger girls teams but no open age while we had open age but no younger teams) and I played there until I joined Saints for the Super League. There was still an England talent pathway and I have been lucky enough to be part of that since 2008 when I was 16. There are a lot more opportunities now for women and girls to play Rugby League.'
Have you experienced a tangible impact on the women's game since the recent increase of exposure?
'More women and girls are playing the sport which is exactly what we need to grow the game. Since the birth of the Super League we also have a much bigger following of spectators that turn up to our home and away games which is great for the players and creates a real buzz on matchdays. The game is definitely going in the right direction as we have been paid to play on the last two England international tours.'
In terms of the 2020 season, Saints will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of semi-final defeats to Leeds in both the Challenge Cup and the Play-Offs. Is the target for this year to overcome those setbacks and depose the Rhinos?
'Yes definitely, Saints are a brilliant club to be a part of and we have a great team of girls. We need to get over the hurdle of the semi-final defeats and it's definitely our goal to win some silverware this season. I'm confident that if we perform to the best of our ability that we have a strong enough team to achieve this.'
'I'm looking forward to coming up against Castleford in the first game of the season and then Leeds. They're the top teams from last year and those games will be great indicators as to where we are at.'
You're the captain of the England team and you have represented your country for over ten years. Do you feel a different buzz playing for your country as opposed to playing for Saints?
'I am immensely proud to captain my country and it is a huge honour to pull on the England jersey. I feel extremely lucky to have been able to play on the world stage against the best players in the world. and it is what drives me to constantly try to be better so I can continue to compete at that level. That said, I love my club and I enjoyed playing for Saints last season more than I ever have and I'm buzzing for 2020! My goal this year is to help Saints get to a final and win some silverware.'
'The plan was to play against the Australian women's team in line with the men, however I don't think they will be coming over at the end of the year due to financial reasons. Instead I think the plan is possibly to play France now that we know they aren't in our group for the 2021 World Cup. Nothing has been set in stone yet and there are no confirmed plans but it will be great to have a run out this year to prepare us for the World Cup.'
On the topic of the World Cup, is there a level of excitement amongst the players knowing that there is a possibility of playing in a tournament on home soil?
'Yes, all of the players are massively excited with the prospect of playing for England on home soil. Some of the players in the current England team, including myself, were part of the 2013 World Cup which was hosted in England. It was absolutely amazing to play in front of friends and family and the atmosphere for every game was electric. With the women's game growing now much bigger than it ever has been before, we are hoping that the following for the 2021 World Cup will be the best yet.'
Finally, do you have any personal goals or targets that you hope to achieve over the course of the next couple of years?
'My focus for this season is to play well in the Saints shirt and help the team to a final and win some silverware. I hope to continue to captain my country and be part of the squad that is selected for the 2021 World Cup. They are my main goals for the next two years and I am working hard to make sure I can achieve them.'
That brings our chat with Emily to a close, I must thank her for taking the time to speak to HeRLeague. I hope you enjoyed the interview and will join us next week when we'll be talking to teenage Leeds Rhinos superstar Caitlin Beevers.
Until next time, take care.
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