At the age of 23, Abbie Scott has 14 England caps to her name.

She started playing touch rugby when she was at school in Keswick and has gone on to play at county, regional and international level.

So far she has scored three tries for England and one of her proudest moments was scoring a try on her starting debut against Italy.

But though she clearly has the ability to compete at the very top, she modestly says she was not always the star player on the team growing up.

“When I was at school and when I was in the team, I was never the best player but I never gave up,” she says.

“I might not be the best handler or tackler but I will never give up and will give all I can give.”

Abbie knew she wanted to make a career out of sport but didn’t know which sport that would be.

She can’t remember how old she was when she started playing rugby but does remember playing touch rugby at Keswick Rugby Club.

She also played at Keswick School but when she later moved to Sedbergh School, near Kendal, for sixth form, her main sport was actually netball and she was also keen on tennis.

Nevertheless, she was invited to trial for county level in rugby and that foot on the pitch then led to playing for the North, then under 20s for England.

Now she runs women’s rugby at Northumbria University, where she played and studied history and politics.

She also plays for Darlington Mowden Park RFC and England.

“It’s an honour,” she says of playing for England, “It’s something which I think you can never take for granted.

“Every time you step out onto the pitch whether it’s training or playing it’s an amazing experience and it’s something which pushes you onto the next level every time and the next challenge round the corner.”

Abbie is passionate about getting more women into sport and insists everyone can play.

“It’s a sport I play and I love,” she says. “I think it’s such an inclusive sport, anyone can play it.”

Whether you’re quick on your feet, tall and strong or small and nimble, you will have something to offer rugby.

“There’s a position for everyone, all shapes and sizes can play,” says Abbie.

This is the message that the Rugby Football Union (RFU) wants women to hear: You can play, it doesn’t matter who you are or what your skills are, we want you to come and pick up a ball.

The RFU is focusing on certain areas across the country to try and generate more interest in what is traditionally seen as a men’s game, and Cumbria is one of the chosen areas.

The Union wants to have 1,000 more women playing rugby by 2017.

Katie Harper, 40, of Little Corby, is the women and girls’ representative on the Cumbria Rugby Union management committee.

She says: “We’re trying to expand to people who just want to come for more of a social side, or trying to start rugby or coming back into the game after a time out without the pressure of games at Creighton.

“Anyone can play whether they are fast, nimble or a bit of a thinker, and it’s a great game to get people off their couches.”

Creighton Women’s Rugby Club in Carlisle is one of four clubs across Cumbria where women can play rugby. There’s also the Carlisle Cougars at Carlisle Rugby Club, the Workington Zebra Finches Women’s RUFC and Kendal Hornets RUFC.

There are also girls clubs in Penrith and Millom that are recruiting well.

Katie said anyone over the age of 18 is more than welcome to rock up and have a go.

She insists the clubs are friendly and inclusive places, which are more than happy to welcome newcomers in. “Not that many women know the rules to start with and you don’t have to,” she says.

Both Katie and Abbie hope that people will be inspired by watching the women’s rugby sevens in Rio.

Sevens was included the Olympics for the first time this year and the fast- paced games got great coverage on the BBC.

In a reversal of the World Cup last year, Australia this time beat New Zealand in the final to claim gold. Team GB sadly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth after losing 33-10 to Canada.

However, Team GB captain Emily Scarratt said if the team had inspired any girls to take up rugby, they had done their job.

Abbie thinks the publicity generated by the Olympics will definitely boost women’s involvement in the game.

Over the last few years, the women’s game has gone from strength to strength internationally – they won the world championships last year.

Such success has generated more interest and made more women aware of the opportunities there are in rugby.

Abbie and Katie say there are many benefits that come from playing rugby apart from the fitness.

Abbie says: “I think one of the things that’s so great about rugby is the team work and the camaraderie. Everyone who plays rugby has made friends for life, whatever club they’re in. Just pick up a ball and play.”