Glenalmond ex stars for England

Sep 10 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

FORMER Glenalmond College pupil Joanna McGilchrist has been praised for her performance in the women’s rugby World Cup final.

Joanna, who studied at Glenalmond between 1995 and 1999, played in the England team that lost to New Zealand 10-13 in a nail-biting final watched by a crowd of 13,253 at the Twickenham Stoop on Sunday.

It was a bruising encounter and at one stage second row McGilchrist sprinted across the pitch to bring down Carla Hohepa to stop the Black Ferns scoring another try.

“That was one of the greatest tackles I have seen in rugby – men’s or women’s,” said Gary Street, the England head coach.

Joanna’s mother Sally lives in St Andrews. Her brother Alastair was at each of England’s matches to cheer his sister on.

He said: “It was a huge moment for us to see Joanna appear in a World Cup final. We’re incredibly proud of her.”

Joanna works as a physiotherapist and plays club rugby for Wasps.