大象传媒

It wasn't until Year 8 that we started a school team, and I started turning out for the older teams in my school too. I was enjoying playing, but the team stopped again because the coach was more interested in football than rugby, which really annoyed me.

A friend of mine asked me if I would like to go to my local club, Acklam RUFC, and train with them, so I went down on a Tuesday night and instantly loved it.

I was gradually getting better and better and still enjoying it. That was three years ago and I will continue to play until I see fit to stop.

I had some really good games for Acklam, particularly when I played in the Houghton tournament because everyone really enjoyed taking part.

As I got older the game changed. It became harder to keep fit as the games were longer and more physical, which made me less confident. I remember playing against Rotherham Titans in the Quarter-Final of the Yorkshire Cup, and they had a team that was full of England schoolboys. They were all huge and we got turned-over 75-0, which taught us a real lesson in rugby.

I felt really demoralised, but it made me realise that on the pitch you feel nothing for no one, only the spirit and determination of playing the game. Everyone is the same, you have equal responsibilities I couldn't just rely on one person we all had to pull together and work as a team.

For me, rugby is a great sport because it's a team game that encourages everyone to work together. People can put their differences aside and everyone is equal on a rugby pitch, which is why I think more people should play.

You do feel the pain but you have to deal with it through the game and continue playing and giving as much as you can because anything can happen in rugby.

So when I play I give the most I can so the opposition don't turn the tables on my team. When you are on the field it's a different feeling towards the other team - you feel like you don't know them and all memory goes on who they are because you are so focused on the game.

I think that there is a lot more passion in rugby compared to football. Footballers put money ahead of desire to win, but rugby is all about having pride for your club and country, which is why I think rugby should be more popular in our area.

I would only encourage more people to try the sport because I know they would enjoy it in the same way I have - as a sport that allows you to grow in confidence and really feel like you are part of something special.