Scotland number 8 Donna Kennedy is a member of a very exclusive
club indeed, one where entry is restricted and if your names not
down as having played in five Women's Rugby World Cups, you are
definitely not getting in.
Since taking her World Cup bow in 1994, the 38-year-old from
Biggar has gone on to win 113 caps for her country, and now just by
appearing at the Women's RWC 2010 has written her name into the
history of the Women's Game.
American Patty Jervey became the first player to appear in
five World Cups, when she competed in the first five tournaments,
but that feat has now been emulated at Women's RWC 2010 by New
Zealand's Anna Richards, Canada's Gillian Florence,
Kazakhstan's Olga Rudoy and, not forgetting, Kennedy.
"I think that's great; it's good for the sport
to show youngsters that you can come to one World Cup, but you
could be at five if you stick at it," said Kennedy, who will
face Canada on Wednesday with a Scotland side hoping to better
their sixth place finish in 2006.
"I've got to use the word luck a little bit as well.
I've been very lucky injury wise, I've not had anything
that's been absolutely horrific and put me out for a length of
time.
"But it's tough; I wake up every morning and I'm
sore, I feel it. But the thought of pulling on your national
jersey, singing the anthem and playing rugby for your country,
that's the drive that keeps you going.
"I'm renowned as being a hardnosed player; my
teammates will look to me and think I've never shed a tear, but
the passion is still there when I sing the anthem and sometimes
I'm holding back the emotion."
Retirement
Although she marked number 113 with a try in
Scotland's round three Pool C win over Sweden, Kennedy is
adamant that this time she will definitely be hanging up her boots
for good when the final whistle blows on Scotland's World Cup
campaign, leaving it to the others to perhaps try for a record
sixth tournament appearance.
Of course, Kennedy is no stronger to retirement. She called
it quits after the 2006 World Cup, only to be tempted back for the
following years Six Nations, before retiring again from
international rugby for two years to stretch her coaching wings
with the Scotland Academy side.
Kennedy, though, was still playing top level Premiership
rugby for Worcester when the seed was first sown for a third
Scotland come back. That seed grew in her mind until she could
resist no longer.
"I believe if you've still got something to give,
give it, because you are a long time retired. I think if you are
still fit and you can still offer something to your team, you
should still play," said Kennedy, who is keen to stress one
particular point when it comes to her age.
"I'm not the oldest at this World Cup! There are a
few people older than me here - Anna Richards being one - I'll
give her a wee mention. She'll thank me for that," she
added.
At 47 Rudoy takes that dubious honour, while Kennedy puts her
own longevity in the game down to a steadfast belief in her own
ability and an unwavering love for rugby. By her own admission,
she's no "spring chicken" but she firmly believes
that she still has something to offer the Scotland team - otherwise
she simply wouldn't be here.
Butterflies and excitement
"That's the key thing for me. The day you
lose the butterflies and excitement to even be part of an
international or World Cup squad, that's it, game over for any
player. No one has a given right to wear the jersey of their chosen
nation - you have to go back and work for it, and I have come back
and worked to get into the squad," she said.
"It's not been an easy process; obviously I'm
four years older than when I first retired, so you've got to be
up there with the fitness, and you've still got to get
selected. If I wasn't playing good rugby I wouldn't be here
at this World Cup."
Kennedy's achievements are made all the more remarkable
considering she didn't take up the sport until she was 19 - two
days after her 21st Birthday, in February 1993, she was making her
debut against Ireland in Scotland's first ever international.
"I remember I was playing second row, we had hideous
white shorts that made your bum look twice the size, though maybe
it was bigger in those days," said Kennedy, whose
international highlight came five years later when Scotland
clinched their one and only Grand Slam.
"Any time Scotland wins it's a memorable time, but
when you take a Grand Slam and a win against England….and it was
the first time we'd beaten England so it was a momentous time.
That always sticks in my mind," she said.
Scottish belief
As for World Cup memories, Kennedy has plenty to
choose from, and 1994 on home soil obviously stands out. But 2006
in Canada also holds a special place in her heart, when Scotland
put it up to the Black Ferns, before eventually going down 21-0 in
Edmonton.
"We took it to them and there was a level of belief that
we could take this side. They made a few changes at half time which
obviously turned the game around, but that for me was a telling
point of competing at that top level," said Kennedy.
The back openly admits that the pace and power of the
Women's Game has improved beyond measure since 1994, but also
witnessed some significant changes at grassroots and underage level
in her native Scotland.
"We are probably four or five years behind other
nations, but we've now started which is great and a massive
step for Scottish Women's Rugby - a huge step. The good thing
is that I can say that word 'system', because we've now
got a system to bring them through."
It's now down to those systems to unearth the next Donna
Kennedy, but if the girl from Biggar does follow through with her
intention to bow out after this World Cup, they'll have their
work cut out to fill the void left in Scotland's second
row.
