Front row ambassador

Six Nations winner and Wooden Spoon ambassador Sarah Bern talks to us about how the women’s game is growing and her personal connection with our charity.

For Red Rose prop Sarah Bern, playing for England is always a thrill: “I got my first cap in 2016. Every time I step out in an England shirt is very special. Even to this day, after seven years and 52 caps, you never know when the next one is going to come.”

Sarah recalls a special moment in New Zealand: “There was steam everywhere, the stadium was full of Lions fans. Everything clicked, we beat New Zealand for the first time in 18 years, and that was a very proud moment. It was a magical setting and experience.”

We spoke to Sarah ahead of her Grand Slam Six Nations win: “Feeling excited, good to be back with the girls, and it’s nice to have some new faces, bringing some different energy.”

Sarah first became interested in rugby around the age of 11. She tagged along to her cousin’s match, and literally knocked them off their feet.

Sarah laughs: “This coach, an older fella, he had a tackle pad, he said ‘right, just run at the pad as hard as you can and try and hit it’. I ran as hard as I could, and knocked the guy over. He did a backwards roll, and said, ‘err… yep, that’ll do’.”

Sarah was hooked: “I just really enjoyed it. It had a bit of everything, you had to be strong, fast, use your brain –kick, run. Growing up I played a lot of different positions. It definitely helped my ability to scan and see those spaces and lines of running.”

“So, I thought, how can I help my sister? There must be so many children around the world that love sport but can’t access it because they are neurodivergent.”

Later, Sarah was picked by Matt Ferguson for the England squad, although initially she was reluctant to play front row: “He said, ‘you have the opportunity to come to a World Cup right now, but you’ve got to do it as a prop. I want you to take the challenge of learning how to scrummage’.

“And, in my head, because it was more of a challenge, I was, ‘Oh, OK then, yeah’. ‘But you’ve got to help me be the best prop in the world!’.”

Sarah continues: “I would love to win the World Cup, we have been so close in 2017 and 2022 – it is a dream to lift that trophy.”

Since England women players became professional, other teams have followed suit. Sarah comments: “We are at the forefront, and we’ve influenced investment in the teams. It’s great there is the opportunity to be a professional athlete.”

“It’s been really fun to watch the number of young girls coming to the game and saying, ‘I want to play for the Red Roses’.”

Away from the pitch, Sarah is a Wooden Spoon ambassador: “My nephew has autism, and he is the most amazing little boy. He loves to watch me play, and he always wants to play rugby with me. My sister used to come to the games, but because of the sensory overload my nephew can’t always be in those situations. It became quite challenging.

“So, I thought, how can I help my sister? There must be so many children around the world that love sport but can’t access it because they are neurodivergent. Can I push for sensory rooms to be put in rugby stadiums and offer children with disabilities, or facing disadvantage, the same fun experience of watching sport, but in an environment that suits them better?

“I’m getting involved with fundraising for a sensory room at Ashton Gate – and trying to find a way to get that into Twickenham.”

Wooden Spoon is working with Twickenham Stadium to look at funding a sensory room, enabling neurodiverse people to enjoy live rugby.

40KM virtual challenge

As part of our 40th Birthday celebrations in January, we launched a virtual challenge to bring people across the UK together to raise money for Wooden Spoon. We had 39 fundraisers brave the cold and rain to walk, cycle, run or however they wanted to cover the 40km in a week.

A massive thank you to everyone who took part raising £3,200.

Fundraiser Nina said: “The January 40km challenge was a great way to kick start the year. I made up the kilometres in running and cycling with friends, and plenty of coffee shop stops on the rides, which made it all the more enjoyable!

I’ve played 7s for the Marauders for a couple of seasons now but an injury will prevent me from competing this year, so it’s great to support Wooden Spoon in a different way.”