Last Friday (20th August) a global tournament got under way to relatively minimal fanfare. Players from twelve nations gathered at the brand new, state of the art, Surrey Sports Centre at Guildford for the start of the sixth Women’s Rugby World Cup – the first time the competition has been held in this country – with England currently ranked second behind holders New Zealand.

Women's rugby has been going from strength to strength in recent years, with participation currently at an all time high, and there is an argument that with less kicking and lower physicality than the men’s game, the skill levels often match those of their male counterparts.

With blanket TV coverage right up to the final on Sunday 5th September (which will be played at The Stoop in Twickenham) the women's game is set to get more attention than ever before and one person who will be taking a particularly keen interest in goings on down in Surrey is Ruth Crowell.

“Will I be going? You bet I will. This is the chance for women’s rugby to take centre stage."

"We’ll all be there.”

“All” refers to the Blackheath women’s team, who have just embarked on their training programme in preparation for their forthcoming season in RFUW Championship South East Two (a programme that involved a “highly enjoyable” tour to Copenhagen last weekend).

And Ruth, who plays in the second-row, is anticipating that watching the elite of the game will prove inspirational.

“We were top of the table for much of last season only to tail off at the end and finish third. This time around our target is promotion.”

Born in upstate New York, but brought up in Mississippi, Ruth enjoyed all sports, growing up playing lacrosse and basketball, and took up rugby at university.

“In parts of the US you were lucky to find someone who knew the laws, but it was popular with both men and women at university because it is so social. My father played and I suppose my size and strength helped – there used to be a challenge to see who could get me down."

"Having said that, one of the beauties of the game is that there is a role for everyone, regardless of size or shape.”

Ruth joined Blackheath when she moved to London in 2003 and now combines playing rugby with her job as Commercial Director with London Bullion Market Association.

“I love living and working in London and playing rugby gives me the chance to meet a completely different set of people from those who I encounter in my working life. “

“At Blackheath we have a whole range of women who play the game - teachers, doctors and some working mothers who have returned to the game after having children.”

Now, as Chair of the Women’s section of the Blackheath club, Ruth is keen to see the game continue to grow.

“We welcome new recruits of any standard.”

“Obviously it’s great to have girls who have experience to help develop skills but we’re just as keen to attract complete novices who will receive really good training."

"My ambition is to arrange a tour, possibly of my homeland, maybe for next year."

"But more immediately we're organising an Old Girls Day for our first home match of the season on Sunday 3rd October.”

“We’re inviting a lot of former Blackheath players, including England star Jacquie Edwards (who scored in England’s 1994 World Cup Final win over the US, I keenly reminded her) and it's open to anyone who wants to come along and join us."

And how Ruth does react to the Neanderthal view held in some quarters that rugby is not a game for women?

“I don’t think there are too many people like that about these days but I’m happy to let our ability and skills speak for themselves. Come and see!”

The Blackheath Women’s Old Girls Day is at Rectory Field on Sunday 3rd October when they open their season against Harlequins.

Any girls or young women interested in playing rugby at Blackheath can contact blackheathwomen@googlemail.com for more information.