The great Rocky Clark represented England at four Rugby World Cups, appearing 17 times at the showpiece event, a record only surpassed for England by Emily Scarratt, Sarah Hunter, and Tamara Taylor. Her record at those four tournaments was not bad either: a win in 2014 and three other finals.
So, no one better to ask for the inside track on who to pick for this week’s Fantasy RWC 2025, as well delving deep into her remarkable RWC career.
Don’t forget you can play Fantasy RWC 2025 any time – it’s free and there is a global leaderboard, private leagues plus plenty of prizes on offer!
You’ve picked Sarah Bern and Meg Jones in your team, why?
Sarah Bern’s ability to make line breaks is second to none. She gets out in the wide channels and either gets you front foot ball or breaks through and it’s so hard to stop her. It’s like jumping in front of a truck. I particularly admire her carrying and I’ve picked her because she always gets a try.
Meg Jones is one of the most skilful players who has ever been in an England shirt. Her ability to create something out of nothing, her ability to entice defenders and turn them inside out, her speed, bravery and skillset is just another level. Plus, she’s a hard runner and a great kicker. She can do it all and she makes everyone else around her just look better. She is a generational player.
What teams surprised you on the opening weekend?
Spain really impressed me against New Zealand. They stayed in the fight and never gave up. Maybe the scoreline doesn’t quite reflect how much Spain stepped up but they deserved their try right at the end of the game.
Scotland as well. I thought their skills were slick and just on point. Fran McGhie just showed absolute wheels for her three tries. That surprised me how much just spending that time together and improving those skills has made such an impact, especially in their backs.
Who will be in the final?
I think England and Canada. I have been so impressed with Canada’s offloading game and I think they are one of few sides who can go toe-to-toe with England’s forwards.
Memories of your first RWC?
I remember it was in the middle of nowhere in Edmonton, it was really hot, and we had a hotel which hosted a wedding the night before the final. There was an atrium with all the rooms around the edges and the wedding took place in the middle so nobody got a wink of sleep.
I was absolutely heartbroken losing the final. Canada nearly beat us in the semi-final and it was Kim Shaylor who kept us in it by making a cover tackle. I remember the scrums in all those games being really physical and you really earned your stripes.
Was the step-up to the RWC significant?
Yes! The physicality level was totally different. The most physical Six Nations games we played were France. There was no love loss there and you would go to battle against France. But facing the USA, they were such conditioned athletes. They had players like Phaidra Knight (in action below) who were like power lifters and just flew into you. You knew you’d been into a game with them when you couldn’t walk for two days after because it was so hard.
Best player you’ve ever played against?
Anna Richards, the four World Cup New Zealand fly-half, she was only little and I’ve since been coached by her for the Barbarians and that was incredible. I saw how brilliant she is and she just gets everyone on side and was such a skillful leader. Then she just tore us apart whenever she played us.
Then prop wise, it would be Hilary Leith of Canada. We struggled against her in 2014, she was very big and physical and such a hard player to go up against.
You’ve had the insight from a Rugby World Cup winner, but just in case you are still unsure on who to pick, here are our Top Tips:
Layla Sae (NZL – pictured above) 59pts in Round 1 – Sae beat 11 defenders in round one. That was a high for the round alongside teammate Jorja Miller and Ayanda Malinda (RSA). Both Miller and Malinda scored two tries in that first round whereas Sae was left empty handed. Incidentally, the only other player to beat double figures of defenders was Aseza Hele (RSA) who bagged a hat-trick. Sae is doing everything right, expect some luck to come her way against Japan this weekend. If that happens, tries will follow.
Piper Duck (AUS) 41pts in Round 1 – Duck’s 24 tackles were the fourth most in round one as she was called upon to put her body on the line to stop the relentless carries of the Samoan team. Australia will come into their second round match-up against the USA as underdogs, but confident ones after their enormous 73pt-victory. If they are to endure another heroic defensive stand, expect Duck to bag another tackle haul and add to her single turnover.
Francesca Sgorbini (ITA) 23pts in Round 1 – Nobody made more carries than Sgorbini’s 19 in the first round. That game ended in a loss against France and Italy now face a must-win game against South Africa, which might be the best game of the round. Expect to see Sgorbini get a little bit more space to turn those high carry numbers into line breaks and tries. She’ll hope she doesn’t also have to make 15 tackles this time around.