SCOTTISH Rugby Union has recognised one of our own in its Hall of Fame.
Five women have recently been inducted onto its list for making pioneering and ground-breaking contributions to rugby and wider society and one of those is Langholm’s Ally Ratcliffe.
Ally won six caps for Scotland Women as an inside centre/full-back from Langholm.
This all started after playing mini-rugby at the Langholm club when she was just eight-years-old and later became the first female head coach of a men’s first XV in Scotland in 2013 and then director of rugby.
Ally is a teacher at Hawick High School and provides guidance to promising young rugby talent.
She said she was honoured and quite overwhelmed to be inducted into the SRU Hall of Fame.
“It’s a huge honour and I actually feel quite overwhelmed and a bit of an imposter,” she said.
“I kept telling them on the phone it shouldn’t be me and should be someone else.
“I’m very proud of my achievements to date in rugby and hope by being recognised I can inspire others to get involved in the game I have loved since starting to play at Langholm RFC all those years ago.”
She joins five other women recognised this year, as well as Scottish Rugby’s most capped player of all time, Donna Kennedy, who was inducted in 2017.
Ally said she was indebted to Langholm RFC club, where it all began, for the opportunities that they have given her as a player and coach.
“I am grateful to so many people who have accepted, encouraged, inspired and supported me in my various roles along my rugby journey.
“The induction into the Hall of Fame is a shared reflection of their support and belief in me over the years.
“I look forward to celebrating the induction [during November’s international matches] with my family and friends in the coming months.”
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