THE England World Cup women's rugby team – which two Drybrook RFC players played in – won the Team of the Year award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Ceri Large and Natasha 'Mo' Hunt helped the team to a 21-9 victory against Canada in Paris to win the World Cup for the first time since 1994 after three final defeats.

Girls' section manager at Drybrook RFC, Mandy Meredith said: "This is a fantastic achievement for women's rugby as a whole. Typically women don't receive the same level of recognition as men, but like England captain Katy McLean said, I hope this achievement will pave the way for women's sports and change this perception.

"The girls' family watched the awards at the club and were over the moon when they realised they had won Team of the Year.

"This is a very special award to the pair and is well-deserved as they both have full-time jobs."

It was later announced that the England Women's Sevens squad would be turning professional, with the Rugby Football Union giving full-time contracts to 20 players.

Mandy added: "Natasha plays tournaments for the sevens and so she has been offered the chance to turn professional. We hope that the fifteens go the same way which Ceri plays in."