Tell us how you got involved in rugby?
At 17 I used to watch my then boyfriend play. Being on the side-lines I would shout from the side-lines, giving my opinion, despite not fully understanding the game. After a few games he was told by his team mates to tell me: "if she thinks she can do any better, she can get on the pitch". So I did, and it was the best thing I did. I then started a rugby club in my last year of Sixth Form before going to university and joining my first proper team there.

What's your journey been like so far?
My journey so far and been an interesting but fun one. When I joined the rugby team at university I thrived and felt that I had finally found my sport. I had tried my hand at cricket, but my hand eye co-ordination was not the best with the hard and fast balls. It was difficult coming from a working class, inner city school background to join an extremely middle-class sport where I was and am often the only Black person on the team but that has not stopped me.

I became club captain of both university rugby clubs I attended (University of Leeds and Birmingham) and played at the highest levels of university sport; both teams were in the Premiership whilst I attended. I have had issues being taken seriously as a female rugby player rather than the colour of my skin. People are quick to stereotype me that as a Black female rugby player I can only be a winger; which ironically, I am... Since leaving university I played at Rosslyn Park for a few years, where I was top try scorer for three years running and then
I moved to Wasps. There I was pushed to the max which I enjoyed until I broke my leg. Returning from injury the women's game had moved into the Tyrells Premiership and I moved to Teddington which was the best decision for me.

I would say that the only obstacle I had to overcome in playing rugby was my family and their apprehension at playing the sport. My mum, as most mothers are, didn't want me to play as I could get hurt, but my Dad's reservations came on the basis that there were no Black people in the sport. He highlighted this to me when he first saw me watching a game at home and asked: "why are you watching that white people sport". It took a few years but eventually they got the hint that rugby wasn't going anywhere and came to watch me play and saw how much I enjoyed it, after which they have been nothing but supportive, even when I've broken myself!

How do you balance your career in law with playing rugby?
It's been very difficult to balance both; time management has been key. During my vocational studies to become a Barrister, I had to take a step back from rugby to focus on my studies and my rugby club were very understanding of that. Whilst I was not able to train, I was still welcome at games and kept part of the rugby family, which made it easy for me to return once I had completed my studies. It was the same when I was out with injury; I was always welcome despite not being able to train or play. This was part of the reason I moved to Teddington. Coming back from injury and starting a new job in my legal career, I was not able to commit to the 4 evening training sessions and game days on top at Wasps, so I moved to Teddington where I was able to maintain a good level of rugby (and a social life) whilst being able to apply myself fully to working within the law.

What are your views on how ethnically diverse rugby is?
Rugby is not ethnically diverse. Fact. The reason for that is the cultural background of the sport. Previously mostly only those from middle class backgrounds participated; these are not traditionally spaces where people from an ethnic minorities often find themselves and it's the same problem I find practising law. However, great developments have taken place in the game from grassroots to international level to breakdown those barriers to make it a more ethnically diverse sport. As I said previously, I have had more issues being taken seriously as a female rugby player rather than the colour of my skin, but more can and still needs to be done to make rugby a diverse sport.

What can it do better?
Greater engagement with schools and grassroots rugby clubs in areas where rugby is not traditionally played, would make rugby more inclusive in society and address the issue of ethnic diversity. I do not knock the efforts made so far by the RFU, but more can be done.

Have you ever felt held back because of your race in the game?
No, I haven't. Most of those I have met in the rugby, usually older white men, are very surprised that I play; not because of the colour of my skin, but because I am a woman, which in the 21st century I find baffling as there is not much a man can do that a woman can't do better; the track record of the Red Roses is testament to that.

What's the set up like at your club Teddington and how diverse would you say it is?
The set up at Teddington is great and has only got better over the 2-3 (I can't remember when I joined, it may be more, sorry...) years I have been there. We have a strong coaching set up and the girls are great both on and off the pitch. There is nothing better having had a stressful day in court, than turning up to training (even in the pouring rain) and having a run around with the girls; it is a great stress reliever!

Do you think your teammates have understood the Black Lives Matter movement and how do you think sport has done in responding to it?
In all honesty, I don't know and that's mostly down to the fact that I have not been able to engage with them due to work and family commitments during the pandemic. However, the rugby as a whole has definitely come together and addressed the issue head on, recognising areas where it is failing and looking at what they can do to make the sport more ethnically diverse, and I commend the RFU for how they have handled the Black Lives Matter movement.

How has the last six months impacted you personally?
The pandemic has impacted me greatly, as I am sure it has everyone. I went from going to court 3 days a week and going to training and socials with my teammates to being stuck in the house with my grandma and no means of doing any of the things I used to do. Thankfully restrictions have eased, and I am able to conduct hearings from home and get back to training, but it has taken its toll on both my physical and mental health.

For young girls, how important is visibility?
Visibility is extremely important for young girls and wanting to practice law from a young age taught me this: you cannot be what you cannot see, and that is the truth. For young women, especially ethnic minorities, it is important to know that there is a place and a place for you in rugby and greater engagement with those groups

Earlier this month we profiled Linda Uttley as part of our spotlight on Black History Month - you can read that here