England’s Vickii Cornborough Announces Retirement from International Rugby

England’s Vickii Cornborough, the 34-year-old Harlequins prop, has made the difficult decision to retire from international rugby. After giving birth to twins last summer, Cornborough expressed that she does not feel mentally prepared to return to the high-pressure environment of international competition.

Having made her England debut in 2015, Cornborough went on to win an impressive 75 caps, six Six Nations titles, and reached two World Cup finals during her career. In addition to her on-field accomplishments, she also played a crucial role as vice-chair of the Rugby Players’ Association in the creation of the Rugby Football Union’s updated maternity policy.

Cornborough shared with BBC Sport, “Living off a couple of hours of sleep a night is not conducive to a high-performance pressure environment. Stepping away from the Red Roses and announcing my retirement is the right thing for me to do. It’s a big weight off my shoulders to finally admit it to myself and say I’m ready [to retire].”

In an official statement from England rugby, Cornborough expressed her gratitude for the support she has received throughout her career and highlighted the importance of supporting women in rugby who choose to have children. She also mentioned her excitement to see the next generation of Red Roses players come through and her commitment to aiding in their off-field development.

While it is a bittersweet moment for Cornborough to say goodbye to her international career, she looks forward to supporting the team from afar and embracing the new chapter of motherhood and life beyond rugby. Her dedication to the sport and her contributions to women’s rugby will not be forgotten as she leaves a lasting legacy on the game.