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 20 December 1983) is a famous English former rugby union player. She played as a flanker for Saracens W.R.F.C. and the England team. She stopped playing in 2014.
Maggie was named the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year in 2010. In November 2016, she joined the World Rugby Hall of Fame. This is a special place for the best rugby players ever!
She was also given an award called the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2012. This was for her great contributions to rugby.
Contents
Maggie Alphonsi: A Rugby Star's Journey
Early Life and Overcoming Challenges
Maggie Alphonsi was born in Lewisham, south London. When she was born, she had a condition called a club foot. This meant her foot was turned inward. She worked hard to overcome this challenge so she could play rugby.
Amazing Rugby Career Highlights
Maggie played in two Rugby World Cups. In 2012, her team won their seventh Six Nations title in a row. They also achieved their sixth Grand Slam in seven years.
She won the Pat Marshall award from the Rugby Union Writers’ Club. She was the first woman to win this award in its 50-year history! She even beat New Zealand captain, Richie McCaw, for the prize.
Alphonsi was chosen for the "Dream Team" at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup. Soon after England won the 2014 World Cup in France, she retired from playing.
Life After Professional Rugby
After retiring, Maggie started coaching. She also works to encourage more women and girls to play and coach in sports.
She was an ambassador for the Rugby World Cup in 2015. An ambassador is someone who helps promote something. She also supports many charities. These include Peace One Day, Wooden Spoon, Sporting Equals, and SKRUM. SKRUM helps young people in Africa through rugby.
In 2014, Maggie joined singer Gareth Malone and other famous people. They made the official song for the Children in Need charity event.
Maggie also tried to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics. She wanted to compete in the shot put event.
In 2019, she was part of a special group. This group voted for the World Rugby Men's 15 Player of the Year. They also voted for the World Rugby Team of the Year and Coach of the Year.
Education and Achievements
Maggie Alphonsi is very smart! 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 too. The University of Bedfordshire also gave her an honorary doctorate.
See also
In Spanish: Maggie Alphonsi para niños
