Hannah Samuel, 19, followed in the footsteps of her mother Tammy, making them the first mother-daughter combination in the 31 years of the fixture to both win rugby Blues for Cambridge – Tammy gained back-to-back blues in 1994 and 1995.
Hannah started playing mixed rugby at Tonbridge Juddians when she was six years old, before moving to Tunbridge Wells RFC, where she was one of the founder members of the Ladies’ section.
She progressed to become Under-18s and club captain. And went to Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School, where she helped to establish and run a tag rugby team, inspiring the younger pupils to take up the sport.
At university she fits in her rugby around a law degree and singing in her college choir – she is also a choral scholar.
The sport plays a big part in the Samuel family as Tammy now coaches the Wells Under-13 girls team and Hannah’s younger sister Nia plays for them.
Tammy, who also played rugby for both Saracens and England in her youth, said: “We are so proud of Hannah. She has worked extremely hard.
“She’s the fittest she’s ever been and really loving her rugby. We were very nervous on the day though!”
Cambridge narrowly won 8-5 and Hannah said: “It was a close-fought match with a moment of individual brilliance at the end capping an overall good team performance.
“I have been inspired by women’s players before me and I hope that I can influence younger generations of girls to pick up a rugby ball.”
Tunbridge Wells RFC has a thriving girls rugby section with around 60 girls from age 10 to 18 playing in three teams (Under-13, U15 and U18).
For information about joining contact twrfc.com/team/ladies
