Health is wealth for talismanic Sophie Spence

Spotting rugby rookie Sophie Spence playing for the Exiles and nabbing her before England got their mitts on her, was one former Irish coach Philip Doyle’s many wily moves.

The Tyneside native with the Lisburn mammy made her Irish debut in 2012 and was integral to 2013’s Grand Slam success and making the last four at the 2014 World Cup.

The rampaging lock was so good, that she was nominated for World Rugby’s ‘Women’s Player of the Year a year later alongside superstars Kendra Cocksedge (New Zealand) and Gaelle Mignot (France). Spence’s performances so far in this World Cup — as an impact sub against Australia and in the heart of the engine room in that epic clash with Japan — showed why she’s such a key player for Tom Tierney’s side. She looks right back to her best but only after a torrid time as she was forced to take four months off rugby in the past year after suffering a serious concussion.