England U-20s call up Bridie

3:16pm Thursday 10th July 2008

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Eighteen-year-old Bridie Reeves of Keighley has come a long way from making her rugby debut with Keighlians at the tender age of five.

Thirteen years later, the Skipton Girls High School pupil has used every bit of her wealth of rugby experience to earn a call up to the RFUW U-20s England squad which started a 13-day tour of Canada this week.

Bridie, a blind side flanker who can play at No 8, has been named in the squad of 26 that will play three, possibly four games against Wales, Canada and Canada's A team at Appleby College in Toronto.

England's first game is against Canada tomorrow. On Monday England play Canada A and on Wednesday they take on Wales. They will be hoping to play in the Cham-pionship final on Saturday, July 19.

Bridie said: "I'm really looking forward to it. I'm apprehensive but excited at the same time.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic about being called up. It feels like another step to make it into the senior squad, which is my ultimate goal."

Bridie's father Keith Reeves, a former coach for the Keighley Cougars U-21s and U-18s, said Bridie and her brother and sister grew up playing rugby.

Since before she could remember she grew up practicing tackling on her older brother Jack. Her sister Kate also played at university and Saracens before suffering a knee injury.

Keith said: "Rugby is in her blood. She's been playing for 13 years. Tackling, which other players have to think about doing, is almost instinctive to Bridie.

"She's not the biggest of players but what she lacks in size she makes up for by working hard and being an intelligent player."

Bridie started her junior career playing rugby union for Keighlians. When she could no longer play in the same team as the boys, she played rugby league for the Keighley Wildcats. She then crossed codes in December 2006 and is now playing for Leodiensians.