Latoya Mason

La Toya was brought up in Auckland, New Zealand, but is proud to represent England courtesy of her four grandparents, who were all born on English soil.

She moved to England in 2009 and in a twist of fate, she made her England debut against the Kiwis later that year. Unsurprisingly, she remembers her debut as the proudest day of her rugby life, made even more special by the fact that a few of her close friends were playing for the opposition on the same day. She admitted: “I was so nervous and emotional but it was also so amazing at the same time.”

La Toya played tag rugby for the New Zealand mixed team and the England mixed team but now is a firm fixture in the full England set-up.

La Toya works as an RFU Community Coach, working across the Surrey region (Richmond/Barnes area to Wimbledon). She delivers coaching sessions at schools and clubs as well as attending junior matches at weekends when time allows.

The scrum half has a diploma in Sport and Recreation and admits that in spite of her desire to promote the sport in this country, her own mentors all hail from down under. Vania Lavea was a friend who gave her rugby guidance (something she is now giving to others in England) and Tana Umaga, the former All Back, is her most admired men’s player.

Last updated: July 1, 2014