Jess Breach has described scoring 50 tries for England as a “phenomenal” emotion, with the wing now eyeing a 50th cap in her home county against Australia on Saturday. The 27-year-old reached the milestone during England’s 14-try victory over Samoa at the Rugby World Cup, scoring a hat-trick to take her tally to 52 tries in just 49 appearances.
Breach becomes only the fifth Red Rose to achieve 50 tries, and she could earn her 50th cap in Brighton, Sussex, this weekend. “Fifty tries is a phenomenal feeling,” she said. “The forwards did a big job, and the inside backs released me to get over the line. It means everything – there is so much history within the Red Roses. To have 50 caps for your country is amazing, and for it to be in my home county would be phenomenal.”
While Breach celebrated her personal achievement, she also praised Samoa for scoring their first World Cup points in 11 years through Harmony Vatau’s penalty. “They have done an amazing job getting here, and they definitely fronted up,” Breach said. “It was phenomenal to see how glad they were to get their three points. You can’t take that moment away from them.”
England prop Sarah Bern, meanwhile, is using her social media presence to inspire others, encouraged by former Bristol Bears teammate Ilona Maher. “One day she was filming me and said, ‘You have a brilliant personality, you need to show the world that’,” Bern recalled. “I am very thankful for that time with Ilona. She is a brilliant person, and her family are incredibly supportive of women’s rugby.”
Bern has played in both World Cup games but faces competition from Maud Muir. “We both have massive respect for each other,” Bern said. “We enjoy each other’s company, which probably baffles people considering we are both going for the same shirt. We are very similar players but very different at the same time, so it is whatever gives to the team.”
