Alphonsi hoping to make it third time lucky

The Saracens flanker will be going to her third Women’s Rugby World Cup, having represented the Red Rose as they reached the final on the previous two occasions.

Helping her country to a record-breaking seventh successive Six Nations title two years ago, Alphonsi will be hoping for similar success on the world’s biggest stage.

Graduating from Bedfordshire in 2006, with a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science, Alphonsi has since gone on to bag a host of gongs.

The 30-year-old was also awarded an MBE in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours List and in 2010 received an Honorary Doctor of Arts from the University – both for services to rugby.

England start their campaign on Friday, August 1 with a match against Samoa.

They then take on Spain on August 5, before meeting Canada on August 9.