Position
Center
Test Caps
39
Club
Loughborough Lightning
Age
25
U20 Caps
3
Helena Rowland
Loughborough Lightning’s Helena Rowland was recently named in John Mitchell’s squad for the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
Helena began her rugby career aged six at Aylesbury RFC, before playing at both Tring and Bicester RFC. Her mother Lisa represented her county at athletics and her brother Dan played rugby for Bath University’s 1st XV, Wasps U18 and Esher 1st XV. Helena represented England U20s in their three games at the start of 2018 and attributes Saracens head coach Alex Austerberry for giving her an understanding of the game during his time as RFU Women's Performance Pathway Officer. Her senior debut came in November 2020 in England’s fixture against Italy in their Grand Slam Six Nations campaign. Helena featured in the Red Roses squad that reached the final of the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, and in the title-winning squad that returned for the inaugural WXV1 tournament in 2023.
- Career Path
-
2017 Saracens Women Saracens Women II
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2018 England Women u20 England Women 7's
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2020 Loughborough Lightning England Women
The inside centre, who wears 12, and outside centre, wearing 13, have similar roles but often specialise. The 12 becomes first receiver if the fly half is unavailable and is generally larger, able to tackle big opponents, take the lead and distribute the ball for tactical advantage. The outside centre is robust and able to step around defenders at pace, adaptable and with the speed of a wing.
