"Surreal": Rosalyn Civil on history-making JAECOO Next Gen Cup debut

Rosalyn Civil summed up her JAECOO Next Gen Cup debut in just one word: “surreal”. It is little wonder why.

The Gloucester Hartpury back became the first 17-year-old to play for the club in the cup competition when she entered the pitch in a 68-19 win away at Harlequins.

Coming on as a replacement for outside centre Becca Jackson in the 51st minute, Civil did away with nerves to earn her first appearance while still studying at Hartpury College.

“It feels pretty surreal, to be honest,” she admitted. “I came to Hartpury hoping that one day I’d be able to play for Gloucester Hartpury, but I didn’t think I’d be doing it while I was still in college. It’s just pretty surreal and an amazing opportunity.

“I had a meeting with Lewis [Arnold] and Murph [Dan Murphy] three weeks before the Quins game, and that’s when they said I’d been cleared and could potentially make my debut.

“The team was announced on the Monday before the game. Obviously, I was hoping I’d see my name on there.

“When I did, I was just shocked. I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is crazy.’ It was mad.”

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Civil, who represents Hartpury College in the ACE League while studying for her A Levels, was bolstered by the presence of familiar faces.

Inside centre Molly Bunker, who started in their victory over Quins, coaches the College team and was there to support Civil as she made the step up.

“As soon as I ran on, Molly reassured me. She said, ‘It’s OK, you’ve got this. Just go and give it 100 per cent,’” she recalled.

“As soon as I got on to the pitch, it was basically straight into a line-out. I didn’t have time to think about it. I just had to switch my mentality and get straight into the game.

“Playing with Gloucester Hartpury has meant I’ve been able to train with Molly and learn from her. As a coach, she gives me support at college, too, but training with her also meant I got to know her better.

“As a coach, I only see her briefly at training, but when I was training with the senior team, she was one of the people I knew, and she supported me.

“She’s a wonderful player, and being able to train with her really helped me develop my rugby in general.”

And the learning continued beyond the training ground when Civil took those first tentative steps onto the pitch for her first Gloucester Hartpury minutes.

The physicality of the senior team has provided a steep learning curve, but one that will likely prove invaluable to Civil’s development.

“The speed of the game is so much quicker than anything I’ve experienced before,” she explained.

“The intent, the physicality and the speed of play from all the girls are on another level compared with ACE. You’ve always got to be switched on, because you just don’t know what’s going to happen next.

“When I first started training with Gloucester Hartpury, I hadn’t been cleared for contact, so initially I was only doing contact against the university girls, who were about two years above me. That was alright.

“When I was cleared for contact, I went straight into tackling the senior front rows, and I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is a big step up.’

“But with the exposure and training, by the time the game came around I felt I just had to throw myself in there, give 100 per cent and it should be fine.”

Civil, who hails from Askrigg in Wensleydale, made the move down to Hartpury College to focus on her rugby.

It has meant leaving behind her family in pursuit of a rugby career but has paid dividends with a call-up to the England U18 squad for a second year in a row alongside her JAECOO Next Gen Cup debut that her parents and siblings came to watch.

“I was very scared when I moved down. I didn’t really know anyone, so it was a big step, and it’s about five hours from home. It was very scary,” said Civil.

“It was really nice to have my family down recently. I don’t actually get to see them that often, so being able to see them in the crowd after the game was lovely.”

Now, with another Six Nations on the horizon with England U18s and senior minutes under her belt, Civil has big aspirations for the season ahead, having had a taste of what it could lead to in the future.

“I’d love to be involved in leadership at England U18. I remember how I felt last year. I looked up to the players who had been involved the year before, so I’d love to be able to do that for those who are coming in for the first time and support their development as well,” she said.

“With the ACE college at Hartpury, I’d love to win the ACE league again, as we did last year. That’s a big goal for this season.

“Hopefully, having been involved with England U18, I’ll play in the Six Nations again. Then, after the ACE league, if the opportunity comes around, I’d like to be considered to be involved with Gloucester Hartpury again.”

Photo credit: David Wild Photography