Chiswick Woman Inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame
Alice D. Cooper helped organise the first women's World Cup
Alice D Cooper. Picture: Twitter
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A woman from Chiswick is inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame at a ceremony taking place in New Zealand.
Alice D Cooper is one of six women who are being honoured at the semi-finals of the delayed Women’s Rugby World Cup at Eden Park on 5 November. They will be presented to a crowd, which is expected to number 50,000 after the end of the first of two games.
Entry to the hall of fame is given to those who have made outstanding contribution to the game of rugby throughout their careers. The panel which chose Alice was chaired by John Eales to former men’s captain of Australia.
Along with Deborah Griffin, Sue Dorrington and Mary Forsyth, Alice D. Cooper was a driving force behind the first ever women’s Rugby World Cup that was held in Wales in 1991. The four women were team mates at Richmond Rugby Club, with Alice having been recruited to the club in October 1986 when two members of Richmond’s newly established rugby team spotted her in a pub and said they could do with tall players like her. She already had connections with the sport, her uncle Philip had captained Middlesex and represented Rosslyn Park, while she attended many games watching her boyfriends play.
She dug out a pair of lacrosse boots to attend her first training session just over a week later and it was there she met Deborah, Sue and Mary for the first time.
Her height was the key to a successful playing career and she represented the South East of England but failed to get a full international cap despite being considered for England selection and having trials for Scotland.
She also became a rugby journalist and was to act as press officer for the inaugural women’s Rugby World Cup. She spent much of the tournament in a windowless room at the National Sports Centre for Wales typing up team sheets and match reports, dealing with press calls and organising the printing of the programmes. She went on to become a press officer for the Welsh Rugby Union but her playing days ended in 1993 when she broke her leg playing sevens.
She now keeps bees and volunteers for a number of local community groups including the Dukes Meadows Trust and the Chiswick Flower Market.
World Rugby Chairman and Hall of Fame inductee Sir Bill Beaumont said, “It will be particularly special this year to honour those who have made an enormous contribution to the growth of the women’s game as pioneers and inspirers.
“All have made a significant contribution to the history of our sport and, it is with their pioneering spirit that we will accelerate the profile, growth and impact of women in rugby worldwide.”
Fellow World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee and Chairman of the Hall of Fame panel John Eales said, “It is so important to recognise the contribution of those who have elevated women’s rugby to where it is today. Today, the World Rugby Hall of Fame celebrates the contribution of some true rugby pioneers and some of the greatest players in the history of the women’s Rugby World Cup. Congratulations and thank you to these special women.”
The new inductees bring the total number of members of the Hall of Fame which started in 2006 up to 160.
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October 30, 2022
