Rochelle ''Rocky'' Clarke, MBE

Rugby World Cup winner Rochelle, or “Rocky” (as she is usually known) is the most experienced player to have ever worn the England jersey, having played over 15 consecutive years at international level.

Rochelle started rugby at the age of 15 with Beaconsfield Rugby Football Club.  Beaconsfield were short of players for a game and she found herself having a go, which eventually led to her gaining her her first Captaincy in 2003.  

She is a truly inspirational role model for every teenage girl who has ever stood on a rugby field and thought about giving the sport a go.

International Career

Over her international career, Rochelle scored a staggering total of 25 Test tries and with 137 caps and is now the most-capped England and women’s rugby player of all time and represented England in  2006, 2010, 2014 and 2017 for the Rugby World Cup.

She surpassed England's Stalwart, Jason Leonard’s, cap record of 114 in the Autumn of 2016 when playing against France. 

Rochelle went on to also win the RFU Six Nations tournament eight times and achieved seven Grand Slams.

In 2014 she was part of the World Cup winning team in Paris. 

Her success didn’t end there as RFU England Women won BBC Sports Team of the year and she was also voted as the RPA England Player of the year in 2015.

Later that year, she was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2015 New Year Honors List for Services to Rugby 

In November 2021, Rochelle played for the Barbarians as they faced South Africa. 

Shown on BBC1, the team beat South Africa at Twickenham, in front of a record crowd of 29,500.  

In 2021, The women's Barbarians team was made of up of nine nations. 

This unique rugby club brings together players from different clubs around the world, to play a few matches each year to enjoy the camaraderie of the game, play attacking and adventurous rugby.

Professional Career

Today she plays rugby for Saracen Ladies and is the Head Coach of Bucks County Women’s squad. 

As an ambassador of the women’s game, she is regularly seen to be doing media and player appearances to promote the women’s game, along with motivating others as a Personal Trainer with her powerful bootcamp programme.

Rochelle attended Amersham School in Buckinghamshire.

She obtained a BA (Hons) in Sports Science & Coaching from the College of St Mark & St John in 2005

In 2016, she was then awarded a MsC Honorary Degree from University of St Mark & St John, Plymouth 

Rochelle then completed her Level 4 Rugby Coaching Certificate with the RFU in 2020