Erin eyes place on rugby league’s field of dreams
Huddersfield student Erin Stott will have the chance to play on rugby league’s ultimate stage when her St Helens team take on Leeds Rhinos in the Women’s Challenge Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.
Erin is a second year Sports and Exercise Science at the University of Huddersfield who also plays as a centre for Saints, who are gunning for a fourth consecutive Challenge Cup win.
Prevented from playing in last year’s win having already appeared in the early rounds for her previous club Huddersfield Giants, Erin is set to grab a chance that few players will get in their entire careers.
Study Sports and Exercise Science at the University of Huddersfield
This year’s showpiece is only the second time that the Women’s Challenge Cup final has been played at Wembley, and it will be a proud moment for Littleborough-based Erin and her family.
“I am extremely excited for the final and to experience that full Wembley experience this time around, especially after being cup tied last year,” says the 21-year-old.
“I have got lots of family and friends making the journey down to London across Friday and Saturday, and I cannot wait for them all to experience it with me. It is a proud moment for them, watching me from playing up at our local club in Rakewood to now playing on the biggest sporting stage.”
The St Helens team celebrate their semi-final win which took them to Wembley for a shot at a fourth straight Challenge Cup win.University backs Erin's sporting career
Now finishing the second year of her course, Erin is grateful for the support the University has given her to pursue her rugby dream. Women’s rugby league is not yet a full-time professional sport, so juggling training and playing with studying is giving the 21-year-old a taste of what life after university could be like.
“With the women's game not being full-time, we have a lot to balance within our lives. I work, I study at university and then play semi-professional rugby, and sometimes it is a lot to manage. But I have to say that the University has been extremely accommodating in allowing me to leave early for training, and providing me with the necessary materials and support to be able to balance my university work and professional sport.”
Starting out in rugby union with Littleborough RUFC, Erin moved over to the 13-player code when aged 15, and after attending a summer camp in Huddersfield she was asked to join the Giants.
Erin has settled at centre and has scored four tries this season.Saints move helps Erin kick on
Eventually St Helens came calling for Erin, and the chance to play for the country’s most successful women’s rugby league outfit was an offer she could not refuse.
“The St Helens move was unexpected, and it came of a general chat with my friend and now fellow Saints and England international Paige Travis when we just discussed how good a club Saints seem," Erin adds.
“I think at the time I was wanting to improve my performance and knowledge of the game, and playing in and around international players would only enhance my skills as a rugby league player. Not long after this I received a call from Matty Smith, the head coach, and by chance it was the transfer window week and after a discussion with Matty, I decided to make the move.”
Having kicked on since making the move to Saints, Erin is now eyeing a place in the senior England squad having played for the Women’s Knights in her teens.
“The first thing for me is to hopefully lift the trophy on Saturday, making it four in a row for St Helens. After that, I hope to continue to grow as a player, continue to win games and hopefully more silverware with the Saints girls. I am also striving towards an England call up after spending some time training with the first team squad earlier this season.”