The power of sport is a strong one which can not only ignite passion and excitement for a specific game but also inspire future generations, focus individuals into something greater than themselves or even unite communities. The vital distraction that comes from playing a sport can often be the instigating force behind someone changing their life for the better. For former Saracens and England flanker Maggie Alphonsi, growing up in Lewisham, South London with a single mother, they moved to Edmonton, North London in an estate surrounded by a diverse community. This cultivated a strong identity which gave her the determination to follow her passion. Being aware of her physical strength and power from a young age encouraged Maggie to concentrate on sport and it was only a matter of time before her dedication paid off.
Growing up in the eighties and nineties, Maggie took inspiration from successful athletes including Denise Lewis and Jonah Lomu who were both ambassadors of their respective sports and right at the top of their game. Cultivating a passion for rugby would ultimately offer Maggie the opportunity to master her own craft and become as coveted as the aforementioned heroes. However, during the nineties and early millennium, female sports were still yet to be on international political agenda with a lot of clubs still yet to turn professional. Being a physical person who was always blessed with a big frame, it was obvious that Maggie was destined to play a dominant role in sport and rugby was always the one that she excelled in.
Making her international debut at the age of nineteen against Canada was a pivotal moment in Maggie’s career. Being in an international team, she noticed the stark difference between club form and international tournament with support with every aspect of training from nutrition to the latest developments in sports science. It was here that Maggie realised the importance in improving the standards of domestic sports. Winning the rugby World Cup was the highlight of her professional career and was the perfect way to bow out of international rugby.
Just a year later, Maggie realised that it was the right time to retire and left the sport in a much better place than when she started playing. In the same year, Maggie became the first female rugby player to become a pundit for international male tournament in the 2015 World Cup. This proved a significant breakthrough in levelling up of women in sports broadcasting and set the tone for all sports presentation hereafter. It’s incredible that in just a decade, the sports broadcasting landscape has changed dramatically and now it’s become the norm to see mixed pundits on every sport broadcast which is a major step towards equality within the industry. Figures like Maggie are now seen as the pioneers of the genre and have forged a strong pathway for the next generation of retired athletes.
Beyond broadcasting, Maggie is heavily involved in the RFU Council with the aim of making rugby accessible to all and is determined to help maintain the trajectory of women’s rugby in the UK. This is hopefully about to be aided by England being the official venue for the women’s rugby World Cup in August which Maggie will be playing a key role in and hopes its legacy will help the sport continue to grow. It’s obvious that it’s a very exciting time for women’s rugby and figures like Maggie Alphonsi are crucial to charting and analysing this evolution. For this, I’m extremely grateful of her time.
Beyond The Title