Louise Rickard wrote her name into the history books last weekend by becoming Welsh rugby's most capped player with her 93rd cap, surpassing Gareth Llewellyn's benchmark, in Wales' 24-0 defeat of Italy in Rome.

That in itself was a remarkable achievement for the winger who made her debut against Canada back in 1993, and Rickard cites her love of the game as the reason for her longevity in the Welsh national side.

"I really couldn't believe it, it was a record I didn't realise I was going to get until a couple of weeks ago, but I am incredibly proud," Rickard, a biology teacher in Suffolk, told Total Rugby this week.

"I am quite pleased that my body has lasted this long and I am really proud that I could represent Wales for so many years … I just really enjoy training and I really love the game."

Rickard, who insists she has "definitely" got 100 caps in her sights now, though is not the only long-serving Welsh player enjoying her time in the spotlight at the moment as the same could also be said of her teammate Liza Burgess.

Welsh icon

The number 8 has been named on the bench for Wales' final Women's Six Nations match of 2007 against England at Taffs Wells RFC in Cardiff on Saturday, nearly 20 years to the day after captaining the first ever Welsh women's international side against the same team.

Burgess will win her 86th cap at the age of 42 if she comes off the bench in a match to which the Welsh team from that historic 22-4 defeat by England at Pontypool Park on 5 April 1987 have all been invited to attend.

Rickard for one has nothing for admiration for her teammate's longevity, adding: "Liza Burgess is an icon in Welsh women's, well world rugby, and she is still playing for the Welsh team.

"She is incredible, she is a legend and she is somebody that when I first started playing I looked up to and I still look up to her now. She is a real personality, but also she is a world class player and to be able to be that good for so many years is incredible."

Rickard for one can't wait for the game marking the 20th anniversary of that Welsh first international and it promises to be an intriguing encounter with England on course for a second successive Grand Slam and Wales a first ever Triple Crown.

Long overdue

However if Wales are to win that elusive Triple Crown, they would have to beat Women's Rugby World Cup 2006 runners-up England for the first time, although that is something that Rickard believes is long overdue.

"That is the exciting bit; there is everything to play for. I mean the Triple Crown, we have never done it before. We set ourselves a target of four out of five wins this season, so both teams have got everything to play for," Rickard added.

"We are continually progressing ... I think we are going to have to go out with the right attitude and really believe in ourselves. We can do it [beat England]. We have certainly done it at a more junior level and it is about time now that we turned the tables."


England captain Sue Day, whose side conceded their first points of the Championship with a 38-12 defeat of France at Old Albanians last Sunday, will certainly not be underestimating the Welsh challenge.

"This will be a special occasion for them and in my experience the Welsh have always been an extremely passionate team, with or without an anniversary to celebrate, so we will be expecting more of that passion," Day said.

Historic century

"Don't forget, though, that the English can be pretty passionate too and, just like the Welsh, we will be aiming to demonstrate that on Saturday!"

However while Wales v England will determine whether a Grand Slam or Triple Crown will be won - not to the mention the champions - it is not the only match on the final weekend of the Women's Six Nations 2007.

For Ireland visit the Italian capital on Saturday buoyed by a first victory over Scotland in the Six Nations and their first win of the Championship. Italy meanwhile will hope to bounce back from their defeat to Wales to round off an impressive debut campaign.

Then, against France on Sunday at the Stade le Bout du Clos Maurepas in Paris, Scotland captain and number 8 Donna Kennedy will make history as the first woman to win 100 international caps.

Kennedy retired after the Women's Rugby World Cup in September, but had a change of heart and returned as captain to become only the sixth player to reach a century after Philippe Sella, David Campese, Jason Leonard, George Gregan and Fabien Pelous.