MATERNITY WARD

Having daughter Hallie to inspire now means the World to Abbie

- BY ADAM HATHAWAY

Abbie Ward has the mother of all motivations to finally land a World Cup title - her two-year-old daughter Hallie.

England's Ward is set to line up in her third global final on Saturday, against Canada, after collecting runners-up medals in 2017 and 2022 - and Hallie will be in the Twickenham crowd.

The lock took time out for her pregnancy, the first player to take advantage of the RFU’s maternity scheme, and says becoming a mum has changed her as a player.

And Ward, whose maiden name was Scott before she married former Harlequins hooker Dave Ward, is determined to relish her third World Cup campaign and have something to show for missing her daughter.