Abby Dow is relishing the chance to return to her roots when the Ladies’s Rugby World Cup kicks off in Sunderland.
England open the event on the Stadium of Mild on Friday night time with a conflict in opposition to america in Pool A.
A part of Dow’s household hail from Wearside and a few can be in attendance for the sport, together with her 98-year-old grandfather, Gordon.
“My dad was born in Sunderland and my grandad lived there his entire life,” the England winger mentioned.
“We did the lengthy, previous journeys from Berkshire as much as Sunderland for our Easters and every little thing.
“What’s actually cool is my grandad, he’s 98 and he’s coming to the sport. He’s by no means been to the brand new Stadium of Mild. He’ll be there, so I’m very joyful he’s going to be there.
“He’s been to one in all my rugby video games earlier than, it’s a bit exhausting for him to return, so my auntie’s been actually useful organising all of it.
“It’ll be so good to have a chunk of household there, come again to Sunderland and expertise it once more.
“Once I heard Sunderland, I do know everybody went ‘no it’s actually chilly up north!’ however for me, I’m so glad it’s there as a result of it seems like somewhat little bit of dwelling.”
Dow’s return to Sunderland is made all the more poignant by it being the birthplace of her father, who died in 2021.
She said: “I think with it being my dad’s side and my dad can’t be there, it’s just nice that I can still have a part of him there.
“He was at every single one of my games growing up. He’s still there in his family, and that side of my family wants to show support and be part of it.
“You can’t be here in a situation without everyone who has come before you, the parents who have busted a gut to drive around the country.
“In the women’s game when I was growing up, we were driving far, a lot, and my dad did everything.
“I remember him buying every single book he could find on how to coach rugby. He ended up being my coach, and he did everything for me.
“It’s so nice that although he’s not there, it’s nice his dad’s there, his sister’s there and we’re able to celebrate that together.”
This will be Dow’s second World Cup after she made her tournament bow at the delayed 2021 edition, where England lost to New Zealand in the final.
However, she believes the Red Roses are now a “much stronger” team, having unpacked what happened three years ago.
Dow said: “I remember coming back (after the 2021 World Cup), watching clips of the games, looking at what we’d done, and some girls were crying.
“One thing (John Mitchell) has done really well is unpack and reset who we are, working out who we are individually, what we want to be as a team, and we’ve combined them together in the route we needed to take.
“I think we’re a very different team to what we were then, we’re much stronger, more dynamic and bold to do what we want to do.”
