New Zealand beat England 13-10 in the final of Women's Rugby World Cup 2010 to cap a memorable and enthralling tournament.
Throughout the competition, via the official Women's RWC Facebook page, we gave you the chance to send in questions for two of the stars of the tournament, Australia's Chris Ross and USA's Phaidra Knight. Below is the Australian lock's answers, and you can see the USA flanker's answers on 10 September.
Julainne Cochrane: How did you get into rugby and what made you stick at it?
Chris Ross: I first got into rugby, I am originally from the States, at uni and there was a group of guys who were playing and they had a little table set up asking if anyone wanted to play. I went up and said 'what about girls?', and they said 'why not, get them together'. We got the girls together and we started up a team, and I stuck through it because I met the most amazing girls and women throughout it and developed life long friendships.
Video - Chris Ross
Roberta Tuckey: What has been the highlight of your rugby playing career?
Chris Ross: This is hard, it is obviously representing Australia, it is amazing. I don't know if it was when I got the phone call saying I was in the squad, or whether it was when I got the jersey presentation saying I was starting, or when I got to captain during this tournament or just playing the game, the feeling before in the locker room. Then of course there is my club side winning our first grand final we ever won. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't be here and if it wasn't for those girls, so it is a plethora, many things.
Liz Hamilton: Who has been your toughest opponents so far at this year's Women's Rugby World Cup?
Chris Ross: It is tough in different ways. I can't go past New Zealand at the moment, they are looking the goods and we had a bit of a dusting up by them so I would say them.
Erin Morton: What is your favourite food and what do you like to eat before a match?
Chris Ross: Anything that is not nailed down, I don't have anything specific that I eat. I have tried to stick out of rituals because if you mess up rituals it throws you off your game. But I like to have a big breakfast, usually games tend to be in the afternoon and I get nervous before so don't eat much, but a big breakfast, bacon, eggs, the works.
Erin Morton: What extra work do you do to help become the dominating lineout force that you are?
Chris Ross: I am so proud to be a 'dominating lineout force'. I would have to say it goes back to my dancing days with all the throws, lifts and I am quite the dancer. I have learned how to hold my body and get jostled around in the air.
Mark Brown: What can be done to help further promote the women's game and would you like to see a Women's Sevens World Series run parallel to the current circuit?
Chris Ross: Absolutely for the Sevens World Series. I think we have shown that it is an incredibly entertaining sport. The skill level in women's rugby is just coming up and up and up. To help the sport grow we need to look at the grassroots, I know around the world we struggle at this level. We don't have a lot of feeding, we don't have young girls playing to feed the team. If we can get them into it, and pump some time and effort in there it would be a good outcome.
Susan-Cute Boyle: What does family mean to you?
Chris Ross: I have a fantastic family, but being someone who has travelled around the world and been in places where my immediate family isn't there, I definitely developed freindships. My rugby team is just such an amazing eclectic group of women, they have become my support network, my 'framily' as I like to call them, they are my friends, they are my family.
Brittany Richter: How can someone play for their country, if they currently play for their club?
Chris Ross: Keep playing and strive to be the best, but above all have fun. You have to love it, because if you don't you are not going to want to put in the work when it is rainy, and your running sprints and you are the only tight five forward and the backs are running circles around you. But if you love it and you are passionate about it, everything else will come.
Will Fewkes: Who are your sporting idols?
Chris Ross: Erin Morton, someone who is incredibly knowledgeable about sports in all areas. As far as famous people, Micheal Jordan, someone who achieved the greatest and best in his career over and over again.
Ross McKenna: What is your best joke?
Chris Ross: This mushroom walks into a bar and sits down next to this chick. He says to her 'hey, how you doing, do you want to go on a date?'. The girl turns around and says 'I don't date mushrooms', and the mushroom replies 'why not? I am a fun guy.'