WORCESTER prop Rochelle Clark has described the experience of running out at Twickenham to make her 100th England appearance as “out of this world”.
And the 33-year-old said she had no plans to hang up her boots as she now sets her sights on featuring in the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Jason Leonard was on hand to present Clark with a special gold cap to mark her achievement ahead of England’s final Six Nations clash against France.
Although Simon Middleton’s side lost the encounter, Clark told The Observer it was still one of the best days of her life.
“It was a very emotional and overwhelming day,” she said. “There were just so many messages of good luck and congratulations.
“But the best feeling was running out of the tunnel and having a standing ovation. I also had my name chanted which was out of this world and I don’t think I could describe the day any better than that.
“The best day of my life was August 17 when we won the World Cup, but this comes as a very close second.”
Clark admitted she had come a long way from the “overweight” 22-year-old who made her international debut during England’s summer tour of Canada in 2003.
“I had never experienced anything like it as the pace of the game was so quick,” she said. “I thought I was going to have a heart attack on the pitch as it was so hot, so my main goal that day was just to survive.
“I then went away for six months, lost a lot of weight and got everything sorted nutrition-wise.”
With a World Cup medal in her trophy cabinet, an MBE to her name and the honour of becoming only one of four women to secure 100 caps, this could be seen as the right time to announce her retirement.
But Clark, who has played for Worcester for the past five years, insisted they would have to “drag her off the international stage” and believes she is now in the best shape of her career.
“There is no better honour than running on to the pitch in your white shirt with that red rose on your chest,” she added.
“There is nothing I can do about my age. I am playing some of my best rugby and Worcester are also playing well, so as long as the coaches are still picking me I am still as hungry as ever to keep fighting and make that number one shirt mine.
“My body is feeling good so the plan is to carry on and hopefully defend our World Cup winning status.”