Maggie Alphonsi facts for kids
Maggie Alphonsi 2024
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| Date of birth | 20 December 1983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Lewisham, south London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 73 kg (161 lb; 11 st 7 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Maggie Alphonsi, born on December 20, 1983, is a famous English former rugby player. She played as a flanker for Saracens W.R.F.C. and the England national team. Maggie stopped playing professionally in 2014. She was named the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year in 2010. In November 2016, she joined the World Rugby Hall of Fame, which is a special place for rugby legends.
Maggie Alphonsi was also given an award called the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2012. This award recognized her great contributions to rugby.
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Early Life and Challenges
Maggie Alphonsi was born in Lewisham, a part of south London. She grew up in a family with a single parent. When she was born, Maggie had a condition called a club foot. This meant her foot was turned inward. She worked very hard to overcome this challenge so she could play rugby.
Rugby Career Highlights
Maggie was a key player for the England women's rugby team. She played in two Rugby World Cups. In 2012, she helped her team win their seventh straight Six Nations title. They also achieved their sixth Grand Slam in seven years.
Maggie was chosen for the 2014 World Cup Dream Team. This team features the best players from the tournament. Soon after England won the 2014 World Cup in France, Maggie decided to retire from playing.
She also won the Pat Marshall award from the Rugby Union Writers’ Club. She was the first woman to ever win this award in its 50-year history. She even joined other famous people to make the official song for Children in Need in 2014.
After Retirement
After retiring from playing, Maggie started coaching. She also works to encourage more girls and women to play and coach sports. She was an ambassador for the Rugby World Cup in 2015.
Maggie supports several charities and non-profit groups. These include Peace One Day, Wooden Spoon, Sporting Equals, and SKRUM. SKRUM uses rugby to give young people in Africa hope for their future.
In 2019, Maggie was part of the group that voted for important rugby awards. These included the World Rugby Men's 15 Player of the Year and the World Rugby Team of the Year.
Maggie also tried to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics in shot put. This shows her amazing athletic ability beyond rugby.
Education and Family
Maggie Alphonsi has studied a lot about sports. She has a Master's degree in Sports & Exercise from Roehampton University. She also has a Bachelor's degree in Sports & Exercise from De Montfort University. She earned a diploma in Leisure Studies from Hertford Regional College. The University of Bedfordshire also gave her an honorary Doctor of Arts degree.
Maggie Alphonsi and her wife, Marcella Collins, have two children.
See also
In Spanish: Maggie Alphonsi para niños
