It was announced in 2022 that MHA would sponsor the Leicester Tigers women's squad. Our involvement as a sponsor gave us the opportunity to speak with some of the players, including Sam Williams who plays Hooker for the team.
As a 21-year-old business administration apprentice at JCB, she gives insights into what it's like to balance a 9-5 with rugby and be a part of history.
What does it feel like to be part of rugby history and an inspiration to the next generation?
The feeling of playing for the Tigers is magical, it's a dream I never thought I would achieve, and doing it at such a special time makes it even better.It's great to see so many young faces in the crowd of women's rugby and I am sure we'll see some of them on the pitch one day, which will be amazing to see.
As a 9-5 worker during the week, and a rugby player and role model on the weekends, what is it like?
It can be tiring having so much going on all of the time but running out on the pitch every weekend and seeing the fans after the games makes it all worth it.
Growing up, who was your inspiration and how did you get into rugby?
The person who really inspired me in rugby was Manu Tuilagi, I wanted to be able to play like him.When I was growing up, the women's game wasn't as popular as it is today. However, with the growth of women's rugby, we are giving young aspiring female players an opportunity to see someone like them on a rugby field.
If you could give your younger self a piece of advice, what would it be?
My advice to myself would be to work hard and have fun at the same time. Enjoying the game and your journey is just as important as your commitment.
We are just at the beginning of an exciting time for women’s rugby. How do you see the future unfolding?
There will be massive progress in the women's game in the next few years. Considering so many teams are now turning professional, I believe the international game will become much more competitive, and the next World Cup will certainly inspire more people to join the game!
We are honoured to be sponsoring the squad and watch them progress as a team, whilst being an inspiration to the next generation. We wish them the best of luck for the rest of the season.
