The Prescotian

Floreat Prescotia   The Website for all former pupils of the Prescot Grammar Schools Est. 2000
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GILL'S main sport is Rugby Union in which she has represented England since 1988. She possesses forty-four caps for England and two for Great Britain - the GB team no longer exists. She has played in three World Cup Championships finishing in the runners-up team in the 1991 Tournament, winning the 1994 Tournament in Edinburgh and coming third in the 1998 Championships in Holland. She is the most-capped and highest try-scoring England forward.

In 1989, Gill became a founder member of her club side, Waterloo, which she captained for five seasons.She also captained the England North Division for four seasons. Her greatest accolade was to be appointed England Captain in 1994. Further to her playing involvement, Gill was an active member of the North Division Committee and has been the North-West Representative on the National Executive Committee. In 1991, Gill was the first woman ever to referee at Twickenham, the head-quarters of the RFU, when she officiated in a curtain-raising game prior to the England v France Grand Slam Decider.

A great obstacle and set-back which has affected Gill's rugby career has been the lack of funding and sponsorship for the sport as a whole. She has been obliged to take unpaid leave from her teaching post when the dates of international commitments have fallen during school term time and this has added to her financial burden. Most of the national training sessions were held in London when Gill incurred still further expense on travelling. It is encouraging to be able to report that the National Lottery / English Sports Council funding came on board this year and the financial assistance given to players has made a great deal of difference.