November 16th, 2006

England and Worcester No. 8 Catherine Spencer has been nominated for the BBC South East Women’s Sports Personality of the Year award.

Spencer has been recognised following her prolific performances during the IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup in Canada in September and her contribution to England’s Six Nations Grand Slam success in March.

Spencer started all but one game in England’s World Cup campaign, which saw the Red Roses finish as runners-up after a pulsating 17-25 Final defeat to the reigning champions New Zealand’s Black Ferns.

The awards ceremony takes place on December 4th at Gillingham Priestfield stadium. Spencer is up against England hockey player Melanie Clewlow, Commonwealth Games Shooting medalist Charlotte Kerwood and Commonwealth Games 1500m medallist  Lisa Dobriskey.

Spencer, who used to play for Folkestone RFC before moving to Bristol, said: “I am really excited to have been nominated for this award.  I have got some tough opposition but hopefully I won’t be a runner-up again!
 
“I don’t think I will ever get over our loss against the Black Ferns as it was a game that we could and should have won but I can say that it’s really fuelled my ambition and desire to win the next Rugby World Cup.

“The experience of playing in a final was amazing but also I have learnt many lessons from my time in Canada. I am fortunate that I have age on my side so I can carry on and commit to 2010 and hopefully make our next World Cup final experience one that I will never want to forget. 
 
“The response following the World Cup from the public has been awesome. I have received some really positive feedback from a wide range of people who have seen women’s rugby before but also, and perhaps more significantly, those who had not experienced it before tuning in to watch the final. I am confident that our supporter levels will rise this season.”

Spencer was also voted Player of the Year by the Rugby Football Union for Women this season.

She started playing rugby as a mini rugby junior, before moving into the full XV aside game when she was 15 for her local side Folkestone RFC.