The official launch for Women's Rugby World Cup 2010 took place at Twickenham on Monday with six of the teams who will participate in the tournament present, including the England and New Zealand captains Catherine Spencer and Victoria Heighway.
We bring you some of the reaction ...
CATHERINE SPENCER, ENGLAND CAPTAIN
On beating New Zealand for the first time in eight years over the weekend:
"It was a really special day, the crowd were fantastic, we could really hear them so well getting behind the team. It was a huge game for us, definitely very important to get the win but the work starts here and there are other teams out there as well, it's not just us and New Zealand, everyone's going to be raising their game over the next few months, ourselves included hopefully, but confidence wise we know what our base level is now and we need to go on from there."
On Women's Rugby World Cup 2010:
"Big tournaments like that every team that goes in wants to to win it don't they? Realistically there are four or five or maybe six teams that could win it, you have to perform on the day and it's going to be tough, tournament rugby always is, so the teams that comes through it stronger and keeps the injuries down [will win].
"I think I've pretty much been doing that [counting down the days] since 2006. It is becoming more real now we are in the World Cup season, but it is still eight months away and we've got the Six Nations to look forward to and that is an important tournament in itself."
Listen to the audio interview >>
VICTORIA HEIGHWAY, NEW ZEALAND CAPTAIN
On losing to England at Twickenham on Saturday:
"We are quite disappointed with it naturally, we came over here trying to build up for the World Cup next year, but definitely wanting to try and take away three games. England came out firing, you could see they'd improved a lot things through the week since the first game, they certainly deserved the win the way they defended and played it very cleverly just to target us and fatigue us through the game.
On reflection it's a great build up for the World Cup despite not wanting to lose, it will create interest, it will probably lift the excitement in the northern hemisphere for it, so for long term women's rugby, probably a good thing I guess."
On the battle New Zealand will face to make it four world titles in a row:
"Everyone has stepped up, we played Australia two games last year and two games the year before and you can see the immense changes they've made. Same with the English team, you can see how much work they've put into their training, their speed, their strength and that definitely showed on Saturday, so it was really good reflection time for us to look and see where we are at and know we really have to step up and take it to the next level otherwise we are in danger of slipping behind."
Listen to the audio interview >>
NON EVANS, WALES
On the feeling in the Welsh camp at the moment:
"Everybody is really excited for the World Cup. I have got to be honest, I was a little bit disappointed when I saw our group because we have been pooled with New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Although South Africa are a developing nation they have improved, AUstralia have just won the World Cup Sevens and New Zealand speak for themselves as current world champions, so it is going to be difficult for us.
"In a semi final or in a one off game I think anybody is capable of beating anybody, but we are just going to have to look after ourselves, make sure we don't get any injuries because three tough games in a week is a lot, but we are positive, we are really excited and hopefully we can do well."
Listen to the audio interview >>
SARAH GILL, SCOTLAND
On the mood in the Scotland camp with a new coach in Gary Parker:
"Things are very well within the Scotland camp, its an exciting time for us, we've just appointed a new head coach and a new coaching team and preparations for the tournament in nine months are going well. I think we've been very happy with the way we've pulled together as a squad. We are very excited to be working with Gary Parker and Jared Tuoro. Gary's an exceptionally experienced coach and I think there is a real buzz around the camp. The transition has been smooth."
On the expectations for the most competitive Women's Rugby World Cup to date:
"It's exciting, you look at the pools and there are not three or four nations that stand out there, there's 12. There are no byes to the final, we come to the World Cup and you want to play the best teams and play them and win. Everyone will approach it in the same way I think, everyone will fancy their chances, everyone comes to win not to make up the numbers at the World Cup and the game is competitive across all the pools."
Listen to the audio interview >>
MANDY MARCHAK, CANADA
On whether it is feeling more realistic with the tournament only nine months away:
"It definitely does, I kind of felt it when I saw some of the other players. The more and more it is talked about, how exciting it is going to be in England, just being here it is sending shivers through my body, it's exciting.
On the importance of their first win over France in 11 years, a side they will face in the pool stages of Women's Rugby World Cup 2010:
"Getting that win was extremely exciting for our team just because it was the 11-year kind of a wait. We have been working extremely hard and so we felt that our hard work paid off. Unfortunately losing in the second match ... we have to learn not to let down, that we do have the potential to move forward and we have just kind of got to pull it together.
On playing at Stade de France over the weekend:
"Walking onto that pitch for the first time, it is like a loss of words, you don't really know what to say, and I thnk everybody felt that way but as soon as you step out onto the pitch it is just like any other game."
Listen to the audio interview >>
JOY NEVILLE, IRELAND
On the World Cup being only nine months away:
"Just being present at the launch today it has really hit home, that such a fantastic tournament is just around the corner. Even though it is nine months away, it will just fly straight after the Six Nations. It is just around the corner really. Progressively we have been improving bit by bit and the standard of rugby has risen immensely and we just hope that it will keep rising and a lot of hard work before the next Six Nations and World Cup and we are looking forward to it now."
On whether there is a harder start than playing the hosts England on day one:
"I don't think so, I think it is a great occasion. It will give us an awful lot of publicity playing England in their hometown for the first game. It is definitely a massive advantage for us to have the World Cup so close to our home grounds and we will be hoping for a lot of support from our friends and families. We are really looking forward to the game against England in particular and I think it will be quite a hungry and competitive game."
