RACHAEL BURFORD

ENGLAND CAP NUMBER 131

“Centres are the only players who get smashed in defence, smashed in attack, and still blamed when the winger drops the ball.”

In English rugby, where tradition clings and expectations weigh like granite, the centre is not just a position it is a crown, a battlefield. From the bloodied jerseys of Twickenham to the wet Saturdays in Exeter or Leicester, these players carry the legacy of a thousand rucks and a million hopes.

To play centre for England is to know that the game can turn on a shoulder, a step, a feint It is to be at the very centre of the storm, and to smile in the rain.

Because in the heart of the line, where everything converges defence, attack, brutality, and brilliance there lies the centre. And England has never stopped searching for its next king or Queen of that hallowed contested ground.

From its source in the springs of the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, the River Medway flows north east across the landscape of the Weald flowing seventy miles to where it joins the North Sea at Sheerness in the county of Kent. It makes a gap through the ridge south of Maidstone and another through the North Downs between Maidstone and Rochester where it meanders alongside paper mills and cement works. It forms a tidal estuary below Rochester navigable by shallow sea going vessels.

This tidal river is fed by the iron-rich streams of the Weald that support resident populations of highly coloured brown trout. Other fish species include chub, dace, roach and pike. Bream and trench.

But it is not just the fauna that flourish here. There is also a unique type of flora that thrive in this area the Red Rose and the pick of the bunch is undoubtedly Rachael Burford.

Known to anyone who has any form of acquaintance with her as ‘Burf’ she started out at Thomas Aveling school in Rochester, and is now regarded as one of the most famous alumni of that educational establishment along with model and television presenter Kelly Brook. Rachael could never have imagined the incredible rugby life that lay ahead of her, or indeed the impact she would have in transforming the quality, perception and development of the women’s game.

Charles Dickens lived on the outskirts of Rochester where Burf began her rugby journey, but even the great man himself could not have written a tale to match the one that is about to unfold in this chapter, although a few of his titles could well be relevant to Rachael Burford’s story not least of which is Great Expectations.

Sport at its simplest is an expression of joy and competition, an arena where players and fans can unite in a common cause, sharing hope, despair, joy, and heart breaking sadness.

Sport mirrors society, and yet in many ways sport can be a catalyst for social change, to create equality in gender, sexuality and in the way we treat our fellow human beings.

Rachael Burford was a rugby player, she was a brilliant rugby player, and when meeting her you discover that she is a thoroughly lovely, friendly, down to earth, and modest individual to boot, you can see why she is hugely admired and respected by those in our game and beyond.

Women’s rugby is growing, and growing at a pace, it will be forever grateful to people like Burf for lighting the blue touch-paper. Those that follow in her footsteps will find the path a lot smoother thanks to Rachael and co having paved the way.

I’m not sure what magical properties lurk in depths of the River Medway but the Garden of England has produced Red Roses by the bouquet load along with the odd flower of Scotland.

Medway RFC might well have been renamed Burford RFC. Mum Renata and Sister Louise all wore the scarlet and gold at Priestfields, and the three ‘Burfs’ played together for a season, one of Rachael’s fondest memories.

Dad Mick also played, as well as doing virtually everything else at the club from keeping the books to running the bar.

Mick set up a rugby club in Poland, where he met Renata before they both decided to settle in Kent, and nurture a budding Red Rose who would blossom beyond their wildest dreams.

“I started playing at Medway RFC at the age of six. I played with boys. I loved watching Dan Luger and Mickey Skinner, they were my the role models. I saw Sally Gunnell in the Barcelona Olympics but I never thought I’d do what they’d do.“

At the age of twelve she was training with the senior women playing at fly half and full back before finally settling into her natural habitat-the number 12 shirt.

“When I started playing rugby alongside the boys I wanted to be better than them. It was only when I reached the age of sixteen and made my senior club debut that it hit me what I could achieve in the game.”

The teenage years saw a rapid rise in her development as she moved from County and Regional honours to international selection with the England under 19 side aged sixteen and having only just started to play senior rugby.

A move to Bath to join Oldfield Academy brought about an alchemy that further down the line would light up women’s rugby in England. It was there that Rachael first worked with coach Gary Street, a partnership that would flourish and blossom in later years with Harlequins and reach a pinnacle when England won the Rugby World Cup in 2014.

The academy folded after a year and Burf was advised in 2004 to join a Premiership club to continue her progression.

Henley were the fortunate recipients of this prodigious talent and she was ‘rewarded’ (I use the word ironically) with the staggering inducement of petrol money which helped with the costs of frequent 165 mile round trips in the taxi of mum and dad.

“I then spent two seasons playing for Henley before moving to Saracens in 2006. That summer was a big turning point in my career because that is when I won my first senior cap for England, a week after my twentieth birthday I was on a plane to the Rugby World Cup in Canada where we reached the final.”

Her first cap came against South Africa on 4 September 2006 in Edmonton it was England’s second pool match of the tournament and a 74-8 victory was a pretty good way to launch an international career.

England were beaten in final by New Zealand (25-17). It was the first of four Rugby World Cup tournaments for Rachael in the fifteen a side game.

“When we got back from RWC 2006 a lot of the players retired and I was expected to be a leader despite my lack of experience. The other turning point in my life was the passing of my father a few months after that.

That made me grow up quicker and I was so sad he’d never seen me play in an England shirt. He watched me on a blurry TV at the World Cup but never got to see me in the flesh. He was the one who drove me to every training session and every game so when we won the World Cup I went to his plaque at Twickenham with the trophy. He would have been so proud.”

Rachael was only twenty years old when she lost her Father. Having to cope with the grief and heartbreak of that loss whilst dealing with the stresses and strains of international rugby speaks volumes for her character.

The 2007 Six Nations tournament was particular poignant and the wearing of black armbands by the England squad was a fitting tribute to Mick Burford.

A move from Saracens to Premiership rivals Richmond in 2009 with another Rugby World Cup just around the corner.

The 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup was held in England with the pool matches held at Surrey Sports Park a venue that would become Burf’s second home seven years later when it became Harlequins training base and a venue for their home games in the Women’s Premiership however at this stage it was basically a leisure centre with string links to the nearby university.

England best Ireland (27-0), USA (37-10) and Kazakhstan (82-0) in which Rachael scored a try in the 38th minute, one of twelve England touchdowns that day.

A semi final victory over Australia (15-0) set them up for a final against three times back to back World Cup Winners New Zealand.

The final took place at Twickenham Stoop on 5 September 2010 in front of 13,000 spectators a massive crowd for a women’s match at that time.

Despite a hugely courageous effort England lost the final 13-10. The scores were tied 10-10 with fifteen minutes of the game remaining but a 66th minute penalty from Kelly Brazier gave New Zealand their fourth World Cup final victory in a row.

There are some things that are destined to become paired in everyday parlance bacon and eggs, gin and tonic, the same goes for people, Morcambe and Wise and David and Goliath.

In rugby terms Street and Burford are high on that list. Gary and Rachael forged a bond for club and country that ignited the women’s game, the pinnacle of that partnership resulted in England being crowned Rugby World Cup winners in 2014. With Gary as England coach and Burf owning the number twelve shirt they swept all before them beating Samoa (65-3), Spain (45-5) in the pool stage the only slight hiccup they suffered was a 13-13 draw with Canada. A comfortable semi final win over Ireland (40-7) meant England would face Canada in the final.

“We had a very tough 2013 losing the Six Nations, the Sevens World Cup and being whitewashed in New Zealand so we had to show a huge amount of character in 2014 to put all of it behind us and turn things around. Becoming professional took a lot of getting used to. We had to learn to rest and find things to do in the evening because for the first time in the very long time I didn’t have to train in the evenings any more.”

“We invested a huge amount of time to make sure we would reach our ultimate goal. Unlike in 2010 when we lost in the final. We started training together back in January trying to be prepared for anything and everything and that made a huge difference.

We also tried to take emotion out of the equation. It was just a process of winning our pool games to qualify and then the next one and the next one. I never thought about losing and I think it was the right mentality to go into it.”

17 August 2014 Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris. England v Canada Rugby World Cup Final.

This was England fourth consecutive final and their sixth overall. After three successive defeats in World Cup finals this was the time to put the record straight. Eleven of England’s side from the 2010 final that ended in defeat to New Zealand started the match.

That Parisian evening under grey French skies was lit up by a team of plumbers, vets, teachers, police officers and students, the majority of whom had to take three months’ unpaid leave to play in the tournament. For coach Gary Street it was the culmination of seven years hard work and detailed planning, driving up and down the country to visit players at their workplace having given up his job as a quantity surveyor to focus on the quest for World Cup success.

In front of a crowd of 22,000, an unprecedented figure for a women’s game at the time, England took the lead on 11 minutes with an Emily Scarratt penalty she repeated the feat thirteen minutes later to give the women in white a deserved 6-0 lead.

With 35 minutes on the clock Kay Wilson and Rachael cut the Canadian defence apart down the left and the recycled ball allowed Tamara Taylor to offload to Maggie Alphonsi who sent Nolli Waterman over in the right hand corner for a fabulous try. Magali Harvey clawed back three points for Canada with a penalty on the stroke of half time to make the score 11-3 at the interval.

The second half saw Harvey kick two penalties for Canada to reduce England’s lead to a nail biting nervous two points (11-9). An Emily Scarlatti penalty on 60 minutes made it 14-9 before her superb individual try and resulting conversion increased England’s lead to 21-9 with just 6 minutes left to play. 

One of my best moments was when I went into a school before the World Cup I took my two silver medals along. I said to them, when I win the World Cup, I’ll bring my gold medal back. I went back into the school after the tournament  and said ‘remember what I told you…’ and I pulled the medal out of my pocket. At that moment I realised I had gone silver, silver, gold.”

Sunday April 29, 2018. Harlequins v Saracens. Premier 15s Final at Ealing Trailfinders.

With 81:16 on the clock Harlequins are on the attack, trailing 24-20, they have recovered from a poor first half with tries from Holly Myers, Jess Breach and a touchdown from Debs McCormack that has given them all the momentum.

As they mount a final assault looking for the one tiny chink in the opposition defence. Just one score and the Premiership title will be theirs, one bounce of the ball, one refereeing decision could change everything, but a knock on just outside Saracens twenty-two brings the game to an abrupt and gut-wrenching end.

That blustery, icy cold day at Ealing will never be forgotten by Quins and their fans, or indeed by this correspondent.

The team and management vowed, almost immediately, that they would return for the 2019 final, which they did, but an uncharacteristically flat performance resulted in defeat, which meant that for the second year in succession the title was won by Saracens.

No Premiership final took place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but normal service resumed in 2021 and once again it was Harlequins and Saracens that reached the final, would it be third time lucky for Burf and and Harlequins?

Sunday 30 May 2021. Kingsholm, Gloucester. Harlequins v Saracens. Premier 15s Final.

A sweltering, cloudless afternoon formed the backdrop to an eagerly awaited Premier 15s final. Harlequins were without their try scoring machine Jess Breach and things got even worse when they lost their Captain and leader Rachael Burford after just nine minutes of the first half.

However, Quins raced into a 16-0 lead thanks to two carbon copy tries from Amy Cockayne and via the boot of Lagi Tuima, a half-time lead of 19-7 was no more than they deserved.

The second half started even better, with a Tuima penalty just three minutes after the restart extended Quins lead to 22-7. However, Harlequins have a bit of a bug bear about doing things the straightforward way.

Two yellow cards followed both on 56 minutes to Cokayne and Ward, Saracens scored two tries through Packer and DeGoede and all of a sudden it was a one score game at 22-17. But Quins showed immense composure to see the game out and with another penalty from the immaculate boot of Tuima on 61 minutes making it 25-17 and a precious lead requiring two scores to be overtaken proved to be enough.

Cue the celebrations, with Captain Rachael Burford throwing away her newly acquired crutches as she was piggybacked to join the rest of the squad in the centre of the field by flanker Lauren Brooks.

“It was in that final where no matter what was thrown at us, we were not going to lose,” she reflected.

“To have that feeling and complete trust in the team around us, there was a lot of excitement and belief in each other that we knew that we had the ability to beat Saracens on that day.”

“Post winning, it just was relief but really special for that team, because a lot of us had gone through the continuous heartbreak. Then to do it collectively was really special.”

That most magical of days proved to be a bitter sweet occasion 

Despite the euphoria, Burford ended up holding the trophy on one leg after that first-half injury in which she dislocated her knee, rupturing both medial patella and medial cartilage ligaments.

Initially she was told that she might not play again and after that  initial “gloomy prognosis” she admits there were “a few tears and probably a bit of panic.

“But I just allowed myself to wait until I had all the information and make a plan. I’m very good once I have a plan.”

Fortunately her surgeon had a more optimistic assessment and reassured her she could return to play the following season. However, her recovery was far from simple, including a four-night stay in hospital as the medical team helped her manage “the pain, sickness and healing of it”.  Post-op required eight weeks of complete rest, until rehabilitation could begin. 

To see this confident eloquent person addressing the great and the good and watching them hang on her every word makes it hard to believe that as a child she refused to read out loud at school because she was embarrassed at her ability.

Now she gives speeches on leadership, champions women’s rugby on the world stage and encourages young girls to take up the sport through her Burford Academy.

“I stand up and do public speaking and look back at the girl in school who wouldn’t read out loud because she couldn’t read very well so she was sent out of the class,”

“It was really embarrassing and I’d go all defensive and that’s why I’d get kicked out. Now I stand here with two GCSEs, but I own my own business and do my own accounts.”

“I couldn’t do any maths at school but now I can because of what rugby’s taught me – resilience, hard work and determination.”

Now, when she speaks to young people about her experiences, she is always honest about her past academic struggles.

“I know that there will be kids in that room who will be in the same situation,” she added. “They struggle academically but they’ve got something they’re really good at.”

Burf’s floating passes were a thing of beauty, England World Cup winning coach Gary Street compared them to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, but for me, they have an operatic quality more akin to a Puccini aria. You know exactly what is coming, but it is still always a joy to behold. 

There are some things in life you just never want to end. That glorious summer holiday as the sun sets over the beach on your final evening under the stars, a wonderful meal when the bill arrives, or that memorable concert as your favourite band perform their last song of the evening.

Those feelings are a strange mixture of enjoyment, gratitude and sadness. Similar emotions prevailed on 2 June 2024 as Burf exited the green green grass of her Twickenham home for the final time following defeat to Ealing Trailfinders.

You can always go on another holiday, have another memorable meal or hear your favourite band on their next tour, but there will never be another Rachael Burford. The message she posted on the Harlequins website brought home the reality of her retirement.

“As I prepare to hang up my boots and step off the rugby field for the last time, I am overwhelmed with emotions and nostalgia, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude and fulfilment. After playing rugby for 31 years, seven of which I had the immense honour of spending with Harlequins, I want to take this moment to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you.

These past seven years with Harlequins have been some of the most memorable and rewarding periods of my career. The sense of camaraderie, the thrilling moments on the pitch, and the unwavering support from you, the fans, have made every game, every practice, and every challenge worth it.

Your passion and dedication have always been a driving force for me and the team. Whether it was a roaring applause in the stands, a word of encouragement after a tough game, or the incredible atmosphere you created at every match, your support has been invaluable. You have cheered us on through victories and stood by us during defeats. For that, I am eternally grateful.

Playing for Harlequins has been more than just a professional commitment; it has been a true privilege. You all have exemplified what it means to be a part of a strong, spirited community. The memories of our shared triumphs and the spirit of perseverance that you embodied will stay with me forever.

To the young fans who dream of playing for Harlequins one day, always chase your dreams with passion and dedication. Rugby has taught me invaluable life lessons, and I encourage you to embrace every challenge and celebrate every victory, no matter how small.

As I step into this next chapter of my life, I do so with a heart full of treasured memories and immense gratitude. Though I will no longer be on the field, I will always be a Harlequin at heart, cheering for the team and supporting the sport I love in every possible way.

Thank you for being the best fans any player could ask for. Your support has been a cornerstone of my career and has made my time with Harlequins truly unforgettable.

I will now sit by your side in the stands and cheer the team on with you.”

Everything that can be written about Rachael Burford has already been penned and in many forms and guises, but for me, it is her actions that separate her from the rest.

She has been a pioneer and pathfinder for the women’s game, quite a weight to carry when you are trying to focus on your own game. Those strong shoulders, the ones that rotate to provide a pass worthy of Beethoven or Puccini, carried that load with grace, poise, and in a light humble manner that made it appear effortless.

Burf was a constant at Harlequins. She was their lighthouse, a shining beacon to cling to when the rugby seas got rough. However bad things got on and off the field, you felt Rachael Burford had a metaphorical arm around your shoulder, you knew things would turn out okay.

Being the official Welsh cake provider to the Quins women’s squad, I got to see the England centre’s silky skills on a weekly basis. I also witnessed her modesty and kindness to those around her, and experienced it first hand when my parents passed away.

She straddled the bridge between old world rugby and the new order, managing to retain the old values, whilst embracing the hard edged professionalism that is an essential requirement at the top end of the game also despite being a Red Rose legend at Harlequins she was just one of the gang, taking and giving the banter in her own humble way.

Just to see the crowd standing on their feet in my final game for Quins, seeing my family, seeing former players, that means the world to me,” she said. “It was a really special moment and I’ll definitely look back on that. That’s what moved me to tears and I was trying to hold it back”

Like all great artistes, any retirement has to be followed by at least one final encore. The wonderful singer Frank Sinatra announced his retirement in 1971 but he would perform another thousand concerts and was still going strong in 1990.

Burf was a bit more circumspect than ‘old blue eyes’ and performed just once more on 7 September 2024 in Cape Town wearing the number 12 shirt for the Barbarians against South Africa Women. Her team-mates included fellow Harlequins retiree Emily Scott along with Rocky Clark, Amber Reed and Kendra Cocksedge. The Baa-Bass were beaten 59-17, but performing your final ‘Puccini Aria’ under Table Mountain and the bright blue African skies is a pretty good way to finally bow out.

But whilst she may have hung up her she hasn’t hung up her laptop or indeed her passport for the good of the game.

In July 2024 the Rugby Players Association announced that ‘Rachael Burford will be joining the RPA, leading the Women’s Rugby Department as the domestic game thrives in Premiership Women’s Rugby and as we head towards the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025.’

Rachael joins us alongside her role with International Rugby Players, where she serves as the Head of Women’s Rugby. 

Off the field, Rachael has been a trailblazer for women’s rugby, serving on World Rugby’s Rugby Committees across all areas of the game and becoming the first women’s player on the RPA Players’ Board in 2015. She was appointed as Head of Women’s Rugby for the International Rugby Players in March 2021.

With the PWR looking to increasingly professionalise and the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 on the horizon, the women’s game is at an exciting stage. The need for a strong collective player voice is vital in this development, and the RPA is pleased to have someone of Rachael’s calibre to drive it forward in collaboration with the game’s stakeholders.

Rachael response was typically eloquent and succinct “As a former player who has experienced first hand the impact of support, I am honoured to lead the Women’s Rugby department at the RPA. I am driven to collaborate with clubs, work closely with players, and tailor our support to meet the evolving needs of athletes. In this fast-paced game, a united voice is crucial for both the present and the future. I am deeply passionate about providing the highest level of support for players in the league, recognising the unique stages of each athlete’s journey in the PWR.”

She has seamlessly side stepped into the world of broadcasting with the same fleet of foot that she displayed on the field and makes it look just as effortless but as in her playing days this has been achieved not by luck but rather meticulous preparation.

“I have done a lot of radio and television for the men’s game. I think I’ve actually commentated more on the men’s game than I have the women’s.

I love it, I think it’s really enjoyable. You’re talking about the game you love, you’re seeing it from a different angle and it’s nice to bring a different insight to people who are listening, because I’ve been in some of the situations that are happening in games.

I make sure I’ve done my research, I know what’s happening, I know who’s playing, I know background on players.

I think that’s one of the biggest things that have come out of people doing commentary, the importance of being well-prepared.”

Rachael Burford’s playing days may be over but her influence, knowledge, drive and compassion are desperately needed in a sport that faces huge challenges over the coming years.