NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE RIDDEN AN OSTRICH IN CURAÇAO BUT SARACENS CAPTAIN LOTTE CLAPP DID JUST THAT. CLAPP HAS CAPTAINED SARACENS TO THEIR TWO TYRRELLS PREMIER 15S TITLES.
It is her proudest non-rugby moment and stands alongside her achievements on the field which include a maiden try on her fourth England appearance against Italy and winning two Tyrrells Premier 15s title with Saracens.
She started playing when 11-years-old at Sir Frederic Osborn School in Welwyn Garden City, her hometown, having attended Watchlytes Primary. The Saracens captain is now studying physical and sport education at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. She was with Welwyn Rugby before joining Saracens and making her debut against Lichfield in October 2014.
Her biggest challenge was to gain the confidence to give rugby a try. She said: “I always wanted to play and watched my brother Geoff turning out for Datchworth four years before I actually started.”
Former Saracens and England legend Maggie Alphonsi was her rugby idol around the time she first picked up an oval ball and Bob Dawson, a Welwyn coach, made rugby a lot of fun when Clapp was playing at U15 and U18 level. Saracens Women coach Alex Austerberry, then a divisional talent development officer, was also a major help, along with her parents Mick and Debbie.
Her path to Test caps featured two appearances in 2015 for England U20 against France and two matches for the England Women National Academy against Canada Women Maple Leafs. She made her World Women’s Sevens Series debut in Las Vegas in March 2017.
Clapp has captained Saracens to their two Tyrrells Premier 15s titles, scoring a try in the 24-20 final win over Harlequins Ladies in 2018.
England
