England Manager backs Women’s team to take World Cup on visit to Surrey Sports Park
Thursday 29 July 2010
Current England manager Martin Johnson paid a surprise visit to Guildford’s Surrey Sports Park recently to support the England Women’s team in their preparations for this summer’s Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010.
The former England and Leicester Tigers Rugby Captain has seen his fair share of sporting venues, but was full of praise for Surrey Sports Park, the England team’s current training base, and official competition venue for the tournament. He said: “It’s fantastic for the World Cup, a great facility for the tournament and for the women to be able to train here too is brilliant."
The Women’s team are currently utilising Surrey Sports Park’s Health and Fitness Centre and 50m swimming pool for pre-tournament training, along with their private allocation of grass pitches to ensure they are fully prepared for the tournament which is due to start in just over three weeks.
As a world cup winner himself in 2003, Johnson was keen to pass on his support and invaluable advice to the 26-women squad, and expects a strong performance in next month’s tournament. “I’m really impressed with what I have seen. The players look in great shape and are clearly raring to go. They are obviously a really strong team. They've beaten everyone in the world recently so they have a very good chance of taking the title.
“As a former player, a team manager and someone who has experienced a world cup before, I know what the squad are going through and what is still to come for them. There will be some very challenging times ahead but I am sure this squad will be the best prepared they can be to contest the world cup. I know that I and the rest of the England men’s squad will be eagerly following their progress throughout the tournament.”
All 12 qualified teams including England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will spend three weeks living, training and performing at the University of Surrey-owned venue, which will provide match and training pitches, accommodation, catering, physiotherapy and team rooms to all competing teams.
Tournament match tickets are available to purchase from Ticketmaster for the pool matches running on 20-28 August at Surrey Sports Park, and the semi-final and final at the Twickenham Stoop Stadium on 01 and 05 September.
Media Enquiries
Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk
