Date of birth | 20 November 1971 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Height | 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 67 kg (148 lb; 10 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nicola Crawford ( née Brown; born 20 November 1971) is a former English rugby union player. She competed for England at the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Rugby World Cups.
Crawford discovered rugby while attending the University Officer Training Corps in Bristol. [1] She began her rugby career with Pershore before moving to Worcester. [1] She played in the 1998 and 2002 Rugby World Cups. [1]
In 2001, she starred on the wing for England in their opening match victory over Wales in the Five Nations Championship. [2] She was named England player of the year by the RFU at their awards ceremony at Twickenham in 2002. [3]
In the 2004 Six Nations Championship, she scored a hat-trick in her 51st test appearance for England against Ireland at Twickenham. [4] She also crossed the try-line in her sides 53–3 thrashing of Wales at the The Stoop. [5]
Crawford noted a try in their opening match against Wales at the 2006 Six Nations Championship. [6] She later recorded a hat-trick in her sides 86–3 victory against Spain in Madrid. [7] She represented England at the 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup. [8] [9] She ran in two tries against South Africa in their pool game at the 2006 Rugby World Cup. [10]
Crawford retired from international rugby after 65 appearances and the 2006 World Cup. [11] She also became the first women's player to score 60 international tries. [1] [12]