Key Facts
| Squad | Lichfield |
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| Position | Lock/Number 8 |
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| Age | 31 |
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| Height | 1.8m (5'11") |
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| Weight | 83kg (13st 0lb) |
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| Caps | 64 |
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By her own admission, Tamara Taylor began as a ‘skinny wing and centre’ but soon moved into the second row. Honest words from a lock who won her 50th cap in the 43-3 victory over Italy at Recco, near Genoa in the second match of last year’s Six Nations Championship. Tamara’s 60th cap followed when the Red Roses clinched an epic 3-0 whitewash over New Zealand at Twickenham in December 2012.
She had also played in the 21-7 series-clinching win over the Black Ferns at Esher in November 2011 and the 8-8 draw between the sides in the third Test and she went on to start all three matches when England won the European Cup at Rovereto last May. Her working life is spent as a community rugby coach at Worcester Warriors.
Exeter-born Tamara played for Darlington Mowden Park Sharks before joining Lichfield this season, having attained a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences from Newcastle University, whose rugby squad she captained. Her previous clubs were Henley from 1997-2000 and Novocastrians from 2001-05 before she spent a season with Thirsk.
She led Mowden Park for four years and in May 2011 muscled her way over the Netherlands line for England A in their 36-0 win that took the side towards a triumphant finale against Spain at Coruña in the European Trophy.
Tamara was educated at the Oratory Prep School in Woodcote and Queen Anne’s in Caversham. Her deputy head at junior school introduced her to rugby at the age of 11. She joined Henley when 15 and came under the benign influence of coach Jerry Edwards.
Her ongoing story involves representing England Students, Academy and A teams before her rise to full Test honours. She said: “I went to school with England’s Ayoola Erinle and international Sevens player Andy Vilk.”
Tamara represented Great Britain Students at rugby league in 2003 and captained the England U21 tour party to Russia. She also enjoys athletics, lacrosse and swimming and back on the field, she received the England Players’ Player of the Year award for 2008. She most admires Claire Frost, England’s former Number 8, who was a “fantastic ball carrier”. Teresa, her mother, captained the Zambian golf team and represented England Ladies, winning the senior foursomes three times.
Last updated: March 19, 2013
