In the countdown to Women's Rugby World Cup 2010, we kick off our '60 seconds with...' feature in the company of England captain Catherine Spencer, who is hoping to lead the Red Roses to a record fifth successive Six Nations title.
Catherine, what was your first rugby experience?
I started playing mini rugby about 20 odd years ago, my brothers played rugby, my dad played rugby so I started at my local club in Folkestone and haven't looked back.
What other sports have you played?
When I was at school I pretty much played any sport possible, lunch-time, after school, rounders, tennis, hockey, athletics. I think if I wasn't playing rugby I would quite fancy the idea of rowing, but rugby is definitely the sport for me.
What is your day job?
I have just started to go part-time leading up into the World Cup which is my choice, so it means I'm very poor! I work as an office manager in a sports centre, so it is really very flexible and very supportive of my rugby. At the moment rugby is the biggest priority for me and I work around my rugby to earn some money.
Who is your sporting idol and why?
There are so many people that I look up to, like Steve Redgrave. I know a lot of people will say that but I think his ability to stay at the top of his sport for such a length of time is phenomenal. Within rugby, Gill Burns is a legend of the women's game and did so much for the game on and off the pitch and is someone I really look up to. There are sports people all around the world that, people that have been at the top of their sport for a long time is something I really admire.
Do you have a pre-match routine or any superstitions?
When we travel to the game on the coach I always like to sit on the fifth seat back on the left for some reason, but I wouldn't say I was particularly superstitious, it is something I have always done. I don't like to be dependent on anything, that is my main thing, sitting on the same seat on the coach.
What do you eat before a match?
Well I hope our nutritionist isn't listening, but it varies really. I probably shouldn't say this really, I quite like having a bacon and egg sarnie before a game. I always used to when I played club rugby at home, it was always something my dad and I would do on a Sunday morning, get up and I'd have a bacon and egg sarnie and then hit the pitch.
Do you have any training tips for young women aspiring to make it in the game?
With rugby it is so diverse and you need fast people, agile people, strong people, big people. I think the biggest tip is so corny, but just whatever you do really enjoy it, enjoy your training and your rugby. Just go out there with confidence and go forward really in everything that you do and every decision will be all right.
What do you think Rugby has over other sports?
I think one of the best things about rugby is it does need people of every shape and every size. You could be a lad or a girl in a school that isn't really suited to any other sport, but you can come into rugby and be the star of a rugby team. You can be tiny or you can be tall or you can be large and I think that is one of the best things about rugby, it makes stars out of people that necessarily wouldn't find that in another sport.
Who is going to win the Women's Six Nations and the World Cup?
It is hard to make a prediction isn't it? Obviously we are going into the Six Nations and we want to win it and we want to win the World Cup.
