England’s Vicky Fleetwood: ‘Being a PT is important to me. It helps take my mind off rugby’

Fleetwood was player of the match in England’s Six Nations win over Italy, writes Peter White, crowning an impressive return from injury

England's Vicky Fleetwood (PA)

Vicky Fleetwood is determined to help steer England to a third consecutive Women’s Six Nations title since getting back to her best after recovering from an injury hammer blow on her first outing of the season. 

The back-rower, who turned 31 on Tuesday, marked her 78th Red Roses cap with a try and a Player of the Match performance in last weekend’s 67-3 win over Italy in Parma, sealing the double-defending champions’ place in this year’s showpiece finale.

The former Sevens star featured twice in the 2019 Grand Slam success and crossed three times in last year’s Six Nations but suffered an early setback this season when she tore her hamstring tendon playing for Saracens.