Two-time World Cup winner Alex Matthews helps coach the Phoenix Flames

The newly formed Phoenix Flames Women’s rugby club benefited from some expert advice and coaching from a two-time World Cup winner on Thursday last week.

Alex Matthews, who won the World Cup with the Red Roses back in 2014 and again earlier this year, attended a training session for the women’s team at the club’s base in Institute Road.

Matthews was one of the youngest members of the Red Roses squad to triumph in the World Cup back in 2014. She has since made 80 appearances for her country, scoring 110 points, and helping England to several Six Nations championships.

She won a bronze medal with England at the Gold Coast tournament in Australia in 2018 and was a member of the Red Roses squad when they won the World Cup for a second time just a few months ago at Twickenham.

On arrival Matthews was greeted by the club’s enthusiastic mini and junior players, and she happily spent more than half an hour chatting with them, signing rugby balls and shirts and posing for photographs.

Afterwards she took her place alongside the club’s coaches and helped put the Phoenix Flames through their paces in training.

“As to be expected, her insight, skills and professionalism were on show from the outset as she delivered the session,” said Flames’ head coach Ken Nathan.

“If the ladies were a little star struck to begin with, they were very quickly put at ease by Alex's calm and easy-going nature and were soon treating her as one of the team.

“After the training had finished, Alex was once more generous with her time, signing more paraphernalia, posing for more photographs and staying chatting in the clubhouse well into the night.

“The whole Phoenix family would like to thank Alex for taking time out of her busy schedule to impart some knowledge and experience and we wish her all the best for the rest of the season with her team, Gloucester Hartpury and, of course, with the Red Roses.”

The club are keen to attract new players off the back of England’s recent World Cup triumph. They train on Thursday evenings from 7pm to 8.30pm and will run a free taster session on Sunday, January 18.

For more information and the full fixture list visit the website at www.phoenixrfc.com.