Going from playing summer touch rugby at Layham Road Sports Ground to competing at a Rugby World Cup at Eden Park in New Zealand is quite a leap.

For 22-year-old Connie Powell it has been quite a journey, which is not over yet as England's Red Roses take on the Black Ferns in the final in Auckland, next Saturday (November 12) with a 6.30am GMT kick off.

Despite all the thrills and excitement at being involved with a winning England side on a 30 game winning streak, Connie, remembers her roots at Hadleigh High School and the PE teacher who set her on the way to the world stage.

Speaking from her hotel room in Auckland, New Zealand, minutes after being presented her semi-final shirt, with England going on to beat Canada 29-16 in a thrilling encounter, Connie told Nub News about the start of this epic adventure after being asked to play in a schools tournament for Hadleigh High by the then Head of PE Adam Cook, and she was hooked.

Adam Cook, Connie Powell and Head of Year Helen Wing (Pictire contributed)

"It was a cool school," said Connie. "That's where I started playing rugby

"Mr Cook was trying to get a group of girls together to play in a tournament and I went along and enjoyed it.

"I then joined an after school club on Thursdays and that was me."

With her dad Brian and uncle involved with Hadleigh Rugby Club, Connie was regular at Layham Road Sports Ground, and even as a young teenager, was not afraid to get stuck in.

She recalled: "I always wanted to play because my dad and uncle played and I was always down the rugby club watching.

"I remember playing summer touch when I was 13 with the men and then the pre-season starting and they were training.

I was still going down there, getting knocked over left, right and centre but loving it."

Hadleigh rugby pitches at Layham Road (©NubNews)

After nailing the hooker position Connie played for neighbouring Sudbury and was a regular for Eastern Counties.

A move to Gloucester Hartbury followed and that step up in level, soon got her noticed and she was selected for England in the Autumn series in November last year making her debut in an 89-0 win over the USA.

That led to a return to the Highlands Road based school and a proud moment for school and student.

Connie said: "I have kept in touch with Mr Cook through rugby and after winning my first cap I went back to the school and give them an England shirt."

That shirt takes pride of place on a wall at Hadleigh High and Connie hopes it can act as an inspiration for today's pupils.

With no inspirational players, or even high profile female sporting role models, for Connie to aspire to emulate, she is confident with this England side reaching the final, and the success of the Lionesses in football, young girls have tangible evidence of what can be achieved.

Pride of place at Hadleigh High School (Picture contributed)

England's Red Roses last won the World Cup in 2014, and will be looking to avenge the 2017 defeat by New Zealand and will be shown live on ITV to a multimillion audience.

"The World Cup was not as prominent as they were now," admitted Connie. "I believe if you can't see it, you won't be it.

"Girls now can see the rugby, and like the football girls who have been good female sporting role models, we now we have a more in rugby.

"If we can bring back the World Cup Trophy then hopefully that will inspire more girls to play."

After scoring for England in the record-breaking 84- 19 win over Fiji at Edens Park in the opening round, Connie has had to be patient in waiting for more game time, something she admits she is not good at, but is still determined to do her bit as part of the squad, while she waits to win her eighth cap.

Connie said: "We had conversations before we came out and I was still relatively young in the squad so I knew where I was in the squad.

"I got a good amount of playing time at the start, more than I expected. To be honest I was happy to even be on the plane but you always want to be in the pitch playing.

"It is a long eight weeks and it is all about the whole squad of 32, so even if you are not playing you still have a massive role to play within the squad." 

Looking ahead, Connie has already targeted the next World Cup, hosted by England, to nail down the hooker position for her country.

"My career aspiration is to be starter in the world cup in England but it is all about hard graft and learning the trade," said Connie.

"As a player you always have aims about what you want to achieve in your career but also try not to think too far into future as anything can happen.

"At the moment the focus is on bringing the trophy home, and me supporting the team the best I can to make that happen."

Her message to current Hadleigh High School pupils is like her play, no-nonsense straight to the point, determination.

"Chase your dreams because anything can happen," said Connie "Good things happen to those that work and dreams do come true."