Key Facts
| Squad | Richmond |
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| Position | Lock |
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| Age | 23 |
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| Height | 1.79m (5'10") |
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| Weight | 80kg (12st 8lb) |
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| Caps | 23 |
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A farm worker in the family business at Longstock in Hampshire, Rowena was educated at Test Valley School and Peter Symonds College in Winchester and is one of three triplet sisters to play for the Andover club and for the college.
She won the richly deserved player of the match award when England beat Wales 33-0 at Twickenham in February this year, not only scoring her side’s third try soon after half time but also creating another two minutes later for Kay Wilson. Rowena went on to start every match in the 2012 RBS 6 Nations Championship followed by the a 56th appearance off the bench for Tamara Taylor against Spain in the FIRA-AER European Cup opener in Rovereto in May. The industrious lock not only played the full 80 minutes but notched the final try in next match against hosts Italy, who were beaten 32-8 and also started the final that brought a thrilling 29-25 win over France.
Her most memorable game had been when winning her first cap against Ireland in 2008-09, having represented England U19, U20 and A team. One of her appearances at A level was in the starting line up in the 10-5 victory over Spain at Gijón in February last year.
Winchester-born, she has travelled abroad with her club to Montpellier in France and with England U20 to Canada and notched a maiden Test try when winning her fourth cap in the 68-5 win over Italy at Esher in last season’s second RBS 6 Nations Championship match. Another followed in the 47-0 win over Scotland in the opening match of the 2012 tournament.
She was also a try-scorer in the first two Nations Cup games against the United States and South Africa in August 2011 and played throughout the full 80 minutes when England beat the Black Ferns, the World champions, 10-0 at Twickenham in late November. Next up, Rowena started the second Test that produced a 21-7 success that clinched a series win at Esher and then played off the bench in the third.
Rugby mentors have been Giselle Mather and Karen Findlay since she first played the game at Wherwell County Primary School in Andover. She had a brief spell at No.8 and her favourite venue is the Richmond Athletic Ground.
Away from rugby, Rowena enjoys watching Arsenal.
Last updated: May 21, 2012
