Clash of the gladiators thrills the World Cup

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

- Brendan Gallagher

What’s happening here?

It’s August 9, 2014 and England are playing Canada in a pool game at the Women’s Rugby World Cup at France’s National Rugby centre in Marcoussis. England centre Emily Scarratt, one of their talismanic players, is blasting her way upfield but fleet-footed Canada wing Megali Harvey has chased her down to make an important tackle. A feisty game ended with England, one of the favourites to win the tournament, being held to a 13-13 draw by the Canadians, a result which saw both advance to the semi-finals with perennial champions New Zealand missing out after losing one of their pool games to Ireland.

What’s the story behind the picture?

At heart it’s very simple. Two women and exceptional athletes enjoying the sport they love. Scarratt, born into a rugby loving farming family in Leicestershire, excelled at hockey and basketball – she was offered a basketball scholarship in the USA at the age of 16 – but preferred to stay home to play rugby and qualify as a PE graduate at Leeds Metropolitan University. At the time of this photograph she was a PE assistant at King Edward’s School, Birmingham.

Harvey was majoring in athletics until she attended St Francis Xavier University and had never encountered the sport when she was introduced to rugby at the age of 18. She instantly shone and was soon combining her Canada career with studying for a business administration future.

What happened next?