ENGLAND'S 2014 Rugby World Cup-winning captain Katy Daley-Mclean has decided to retire from international rugby.
The 34-year-old, who has a 16-month old daughter, retires on 116 caps – England's third most capped player of all time.
Daley-Mclean, who scored 542 points during her international career, said: “Having had time to reflect following the Autumn Internationals, I have decided now is the right time to retire from international rugby.
“This has been a difficult but relatively quick decision and feels like the right time.
“I'd like to say a huge thank you to Nicky Ponsford (RFU head of women's performance) and Simon Middleton (England Women head coach) who have been great with me throughout my career and were completely understanding of my decision to retire.” Daley-Mclean made her Test debut against Scotland in 2007 and featured in four Rugby World Cups.
She was awarded an MBE in the 2014 New Year's Honours List for services to rugby and was recently named at fly-half in World Rugby's women's 15s team of the decade.
She won eight Women's Six Nations Grand Slam titles and played Sevens for Team GB at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
At club level, Daley- Mclean represented Darlington Mowden Park Sharks and Loughborough Lightning before taking on a player-coach role at Premier 15s newcomers Sale Sharks Women at the start of this season, a role she will continue for the remainder of the campaign.
“At Sale I have found a new home and have loved my time there so far,” she said.
“Working with Darren Lamon and Michelle Orange, and living locally, I feel I can develop my coaching and drive something special at the club and in the region.” With England targeting the World Cup in New Zealand next autumn, her decision will shock many as she is playing some of the best rugby of her career.
In 2019 she was one of five women nominated for the World Rugby Player of the Year award.
“Becoming a parent 18 months ago was life changing and my daughter (Addie) also plays a role in my decision,” she said. “I don't want to miss out on these precious years with her and the calendar would have meant spending a lot of time away.
“I looked at the calendar and I thought I don't want to be away from her this long,” she said. “I don't want to do this any more.
“Once I'd opened that box to think about those things like drive and motivation I just knew it wasn't for me any more.” England Women's head coach Simon Middleton said: “Katy is an icon of the game. The word legend is used a lot but I would tag that to her because of the consistency of her performances over such a long period of time.
“The influence she's had on the women's game worldwide for England has been absolutely sensational.
Katy has continually adapted and shown her versatility as a player and her technical and tactical understanding as a player to play at the level she has for so long in such a pivotal position is incredible.”
