Women's rugby: England skipper Katy McLean eyes more success in 2015

England women’s rugby skipper Katy McLean admits 2014 was a glorious year but insists there is more to come from the national side.

Last summer, McLean skippered England to their first Women’s Rugby World Cup triumph in 20 years after three successive final defeats to New Zealand.

And the South Shields-born fly-half is looking forward to a busy year with England and working with next crop of emerging female rugby talent.

“For us 2014 was a massive year and for me personally, it has been a year that I think I will struggle to match,” McLean told the Sportswomen show on Sky Sports News HQ.

“I think 2015 is going to present new challenges. We’re now building into the Six Nations, the Sevens tournament and qualification for the Olympics so there is a lot more to come from England Rugby.

“We were in camp this weekend so it was nice to see a lot of the girls but also a lot of fresh faces. We’ve had a few retirements since the 2014 World Cup and it’s about making sure that new group of grassroots players comes in and gets that experience.”

McLean - one of 12 members of the 15-a-side offered full-time Sevens contracts in August – insists there is no room for complacency under head coach Gary Street and assistant coach Simon Middleton.

“The next World Cup is in 2017 so as much as we want to enjoy what we achieved in 2014 it is about building for the future,” she said. “That is something that I think Gary and Simon are going to manage in terms of going into the Six Nations.

“We’re two-and-a-half years out from the next World Cup so it will be about making sure we get that experience and balance and we manage expectations.

“As much as we want to win the World Cup every time we play in it we have to be realistic and make sure the right girls are getting the right opportunities.”