WORCESTER wing Kat Merchant said it had been a whirlwind 48 hours after helping England win the Women’s Rugby World Cup on Sunday.
The 28-year-old and her teammates arrived to a heroes welcome at Twickenham on Monday as hundreds of people turned out to celebrate their success.
England’s 21-9 victory over Canada ended more than a decade of hurt for the women’s team who had suffered three successive losses in the final.
Merchant said it was an “incredible feeling” to finally lift the trophy, but said the reaction to their victory had been equally overwhelming.
“When we were out in France we were in our own little World Cup bubble and we have really appreciated all the Tweets and good luck messages we have received,” she said.
“However it was not until we got back in the UK we realised just how much it meant. We were front page news on a lot of the newspapers and there were a lot of people at Twickenham ready to greet us.
“We just did not know the impact it had back here until we arrived. It has been a whirlwind, so I am now going through all my Tweets, emails and Facebook messages and trying to reply to people thanking them for their support.
“You just feel like you did your country proud.”
After making an impressive start, Canada got within two points of England’s lead, but Merchant, who was part of a side which included fellow Worcester Ladies players Ceri Large, Rochelle Clark, Laura Keates, Heather Fisher and Lydia Thompson, said she was confident they would pull through.
“There was a very different feeling in the side in 2010 which lost in the final,” she said. “We were a lot more relaxed and I am remember having a players’ meeting a couple of days before the final and I just had this feeling that it was going to be different for us this time.
“But until that final whistle went I never let myself think about how I would feel if I did win, so when it did go I was overwhelmed. I was balling my eyes out because you realise that every sessions you’ve done in the morning before work was worth it.”
Merchant, who is a rugby coach at Buckinghamshire University, said she hoped England’s victory would entice more people to play rugby.
“I am hoping this will now increase the media coverage that we are getting,” she added. “It also shows some women and girls that maybe a sport they weren’t sure about or did not know about is suddenly something they may consider giving a go.
“I just hope it has a knock on effect and will raise the numbers participating at grassroots level.”