'the imjin' magazine Summer 2019 | Page 11

PRIDE Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s Rugby Football Club (WRFC) is the unified women’s team of Gloucester Rugby and Hartpury College, founded in 2014. “Hartpury College has a reputation for sporting excellence. We’ve got all the facilities there, we’ve got the gym, the physio facilities,” continues Whitecross. “For the first two seasons at least, I was the only military person in the team. There’d been a few times when the university girls had a game on a Wednesday and I’ve been able to go up and support. I’d come straight from work in uniform and they’re all say ‘ooo look at you!’. They’re quite interested in my military role, and I get asked a lot of questions.” “It’s just nice to get involved, and I know they’re quite keen that they’ve got a serving soldier in the set-up. “And with the Army versus RAF game at Gloucester, fingers crossed I’ll play and work my way into the Inter-Service squad. And I might get to play at my home ground.” “I’ve played at Kingsholm a few times and it’s a great stadium to play in. But to be putting on an Army shirt with the Gloucester girls watching me play there would be a real experience. “It’s something I’d like to work towards. If I could get there, I’d be so proud of it. In rugby you put your body on the line for someone, it’s instinctive as a soldier. the imjin SUMMER 2019 11