Rachael Burford

Rachael Burford (born 19 August 1986) is an English rugby union player. She represented England at the 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2017 Women's Rugby World Cups.^[2][3][4][5] She was a member of the squad which went to the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.^[6]

Rachael Burford

Burford on winning the 2014 Rugby World Cup
Date of birth	(1986-08-19) 19 August 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth	Medway, Kent, England
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight	70 kg (150 lb; 11 st 0 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Medway () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2017-2024 Harlequins () 2016-2017 Aylesford Bulls () 2016-2012 Thurrock T-Birds () 2009-2012 Richmond F.C. () 2006-2006 Saracens () 2004-2006 Henley[1] () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2006–2019 England 84 (52) National sevens team Years Team Comps 2009, 2013 England

In May 2014, Burford was awarded the Rugby Players' Association England women's player of the year award.^[7]

Off the field, Rachael has been a trailblazer for women’s rugby, serving on World Rugby’s Rugby Committees across all areas of the game and becoming the first women’s player on the RPA Players’ Board in 2015^[8]. She was appointed as Head of Women’s Rugby for the International Rugby Players in March 2021. She joined the RPA as Head of Women's Rugby in July 2024.^[9]

References

1. "My Life in Rugby: Rachael Burford – England women centre". 7 January 2015.
2. Medway Rugby Football Club (2006). "Rachael Burford – Local girl gets England World Cup call up". Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
3. "Street Names England Women's Rugby World Cup Squad". intheloose.com. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
4. "England announce squad for 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup". RFU. 29 June 2017. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
5. Mockford, Sarah (29 June 2017). "England name their squad for their Women's Rugby World Cup defence". Rugby World. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
6. Alison Donnelly (Scrum Queens) (June 2013). "World Cup 7s Squads". Retrieved 27 July 2014.
7. Luke Cawdell (Kent Online) (22 May 2014). "Rachael Burford wins the Rugby Players' Association England women's player-of-the-year award". Retrieved 17 July 2014.
8. "England's Rachael Burford first woman on RPA players' board". BBC Sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
9. "Rachael Burford Joins The RPA". The RPA. Retrieved 7 January 2025.

External links

• Player profile