Jess Breach won an English title in her first year of senior rugby, has scored six tries in as many games for Harlequins this season and became something of a viral sensation in September.
Now, as one of seven new faces in the England squad for the Autumn Internationals against Canada, the 19-year-old is dreaming of a first cap for the reigning Women’s Six Nations champions.
The Harlequins winger was part of the Aylesford team (as it was then known) that won the title last year which was her first season of adult rugby.
Under the stewardship of Karen Findlay they have continued on that trajectory with 30 points from a possible 30 this season, and Breach has been one of the starring figures in the team.
She has already racked up six tries, with the most notable in their second game of the season. Collecting a deep kick-off five metres from her line, she showed her pace and beat eight defenders on the way to scoring one of the tries of the season, not that she was expecting it to be such a hit on social media.
“It was a weird one,” remembers Breach, who turns 20 on Saturday. “I just picked up the ball and ran. I didn’t think anything of it at the time but then I saw my phone after the game was going off. It obviously got quite a lot coverage and was a good try.
“This season is going really well for us, it’s good to have got bonus-point wins in every game and to have been able to build on what we achieved last season.”
Breach started her career at Chichester, following in the footsteps of her father John, a winger at the club.
Since then her rise has been stratospheric, to the point that she was included by England coach Nathan Middleton in his squad for November, and Breach is grateful for the support she received early on.
She added: “I first got involved in rugby when I was six at Chichester. I used to go along and watch my dad play and my brother as well.
“He played on the wing as well, although I’ve played three or four times at outside centre as well, and I can play at full-back too.
“Since then I’ve played for Quins and also England Under-20s and the Under-18s Sevens team.”
Breach also featured for the senior Sevens team in Clermont last summer, an experience from which she learned a lot.
And now, with England facing Canada three times in the space of eight days, she is hoping to make a similar impact with the Red Roses in the XVs game.
“We join up on November 13th so I’m really looking forward to it,” she said.
“I would love to get my first cap, I’m really happy to get called up and then to have the chance to train with the squad.
“It’s a step up each time but there are a few Quins players in the squad so it’s really exciting.
“Overall my aim for the season is to try to get that first cap and then to keep building with Harlequins and progressing.”
