Lydia Thompson

Lydia ran in three tries on her international debut against Spain in the 2012 European Cup. She followed that with two tries in the opening pool game against Samoa in the 2014 World Cup in France before being ruled out of the tournament through injury.

She ran in England’s final 2017 Six Nations try against Ireland to help clinch the Grand Slam. That try-scoring form continued at the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup where she crossed five times in four games, including a solo effort from the halfway line in the final against New Zealand. She was nominated World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year before switching to sevens where she won a bronze medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

She returned to XVs for the Quilter Internationals, scoring a second hat-trick but she would unfortunately miss the 2019 Women’s Six Nations. She returned for the 2019 Super Series in San Diego, featuring in all of England’s matches as they finished as runners-up. Lydia scored a last-gasp winning try in England’s Quilter International win over France at Sandy Park and, following an injury, returned for the 2020 Six Nations win over Wales at Twickenham Stoop.