Key Facts
| Squad | Wasps |
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| Position | Wing/Centre |
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| Age | 25 |
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| Height | 1.75m (5'9") |
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| Weight | 70kg (11st 0lb) |
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| Caps | 51 |
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An unlucky knee injury in training to Richmond’s Claire Allan gave Michaela Staniford, of Wasps, the tantalising opportunity to appear in her second Women’s World Cup in 2010. Not only that. She had become England’s youngest player at the age of 17, back in 2005.
Michaela reached the distinguished 50-cap landmark in the 15-3 win over France at Stade Charlety in March 2012, joining Tamara Taylor, Margaret Alphonsi, Katy McLean, Amy Turner and Rochelle Clark, teammates who had already completed a half-century of Tests.
She was ‘player of the match’ when scoring two tries in the 47-0 victory over Scotland in the opening RBS 6 Nations game in February 2012, added one against Italy and two against Wales to bring her aggregate in this season’s tournament to five.
Michaela, who was born in High Wycombe, has run in 22 international tries. She appeared in the 2006 and 2010 WRWC and the 2009 WRWC Sevens and has represented England at five levels including U19, Select and A team, the side she led to a 39-0 pool win over the Netherlands in the 2011 European Trophy at Coruña, Spain.
She was co-captain of England Sevens with Sonia Green last season, having first played when 13 at Rickmansworth School. Michaela said: “We competed at Sevens and I then joined Fullerians, the local team in Watford.
“Lee Parkin, my teacher, introduced me to rugby and put so much time and effort into the team. Then I moved north to play and study at East Durham and Houghall Community College.”
Michaela appeared for Thirsk Sharks (2003-06) and Henley (2006) before joining Wasps and winning a wide range of personal and collective honours, headed by the Six Nations title in all the past five years. Sue Day, the former England captain, is the player she regards most highly. “Sue is a living rugby legend and a very respected friend,” said Michaela.
She has been a member of victorious Sevens teams in Dubai, San Diego, Amsterdam, Newquay, Richmond, Edinburgh and Moscow among others. Much closer to home, Michaela is a student at the University of Hertfordshire, completing a Masters in Education part time while working as a PE teacher at Rickmansworth, her old school. She previously attained a Sport Science degree at St Mary’s University.
Away from rugby, studies and her career, Michaela enjoys swimming and “discovered a new found appreciation for Pilates.” Her most memorable tournament was the triumph in the Amsterdam Sevens three years ago (“the biggest learning curve in my life”) and the 2006 Six Nations Grand Slam game against Ireland.
Bigger challenges have beckoned this season. They began with the first of two matches in France in which Michaela formed an impressive centre partnership with Kim Oliver, despite the 14-5 defeat in an uncapped game.
Last updated: March 19, 2012
