Alison Donnelly looks at the players who will have a huge impact at the Women's Rugby World Cup.
Players ready to become household names
If there were a phrase to sum up the top women's rugby players to those who have never watched the game it would probably be that they are the 'best rugby players you've never heard of.'
In the majority of countries it is played women's rugby is a minority sport, but it will take centre stage in England this year when the World Cup comes to town, and the sport will take advantage of a few of its remarkable representatives who we'll be hearing lots more of in the months ahead.
Here are a few of the household names to get you started.
The first is Canada's Heather Moyse, the fullback who was the top try scorer at the last World Cup but who made headlines recently by winning a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in the bobsleigh event.
That feat has made her a well known name in Canada and her return to the Canadian Rugby Squad in time for the World Cup means the tournament has a very marketable face across the water.
Another name and face who is well known closer to home is the Wales fullback Non Evans who seems to making a habit of setting herself ambitious targets and then breaking all sorts of records.
Not only is Evans on course to break the world record for international tries (she's on 64 - level with David Campese and just five behind Daisuke Ohata of Japan who has 69) but after this year's 6 Nations she decided to take up wrestling in an effort to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games in October this year.
Evans was at the 2002 Commonwealth Games where she became the first female to compete at two separate sports by entering the weightlifting and judo competitions. But even then, representing Wales at two major international events within two months this year would be a remarkable feat for this over-achiever.
The Machine
In England, while most fans might recognise the captain Catherine Spencer who has been banging the drum for the game a lot recently and been doing a great job, a better known name might well be Maggie Alphonsi, who the
Sky Sports team dubbed 'The Machine' some years back because of her tackling ability.
Alphonsi has been a mainstay of the England squad for many seasons now and at the World Cup she'll be a leading player as the home team try and win the crown for the first time.
The Australians are bringing a wealth of stars with them to London, including Kirsty Giteau, the sister of Matt, and Debbie Hodgkinson - the current IRB Women's Personality of the Year.
But their leader and face of their squad is Cheryl Soon, the captain who was also one of the key faces of the IRB's bid to have Sevens at the Olympics.
Soon travelled the world in an effort to spread the Sevens message last year and as Australia captain she lifted the first ever Women's Rugby World Cup Sevens title in Dubai in 2009, making history in the process.
These players are a few of the standout names who will represent their countries at this year's World Cup, being broadcast on
Sky. There are more than 300 other players in London for the event this August though.
Catch them if you can.
Alison Donnelly is the editor of women's rugby website www.scrumqueens.com
