NEWLY-RETIRED Emily Rudge is relishing the start of the next phase of her career in Rugby League, after being signed up by Premier Sports to provide expert analysis of England’s World Cup games.
Working alongside host Megan Wellens and fellow pundits, former England internationals Leon Pryce and Kevin Brown, Rudge will initially pick the bones out of the group games, and is confident both teams can make it through those stages and into the semi-finals.
“It’s unfamiliar territory for me because I am used to preparing for games as a player, and never had to prepare for a World Cup as a pundit, but I am very excited to get involved in that way,” said Rudge, who is particularly keen to seen how Stuart Barrow’s England side get on down under.
“But it’s going to be fun and I’m really glad I am going to be part of the coverage team. I’d be watching the games and analysing them myself anyway, so it’s nice to be able to do that as part of Premier Sports. It will be a challenge, but I am excited.
“I’d love to stay involved in the media side of things after this tournament, because the media play such a crucial role in the game, especially the women’s game. That’s what helps to uplift the game, showcase the player and get bums on seats, which in terms brings new sponsorship and opportunities for the game.
“I’ve always been very passionate about helping grow the sport and this is a new way I can hopefully help to do that.
“Having still been involved as a player this year I think I am in a good position to know a lot about the women’s players in particular, and not just England, some of the Wales girls have been involved in Super League. And by watching the NRLW every week we know that Australia and Samoa are going to be big teams to face.
“So it’s going to be tough for England, but it’s also really exciting and I am really looking forward to seeing some of our girls pull on an England shirt in Australia and see them play against the World’s best.
“We’ve not seen the likes of Eva Hunter and Jenna Foubister go up against the world’s best yet, and it will be great to see how they go on.
“It’s probably going to be that last group game against Samoa that England will need to win to progress. I’d love to see them in the semi-finals and they definitely have the talent to get there, but it is a big ask to travel over there – for a lot of the girls this will be the first time they’ve done a trip like this. It will be unfamiliar for them so they’ll have to approach things differently, but I am confident they can progress to the later stages.”
