Mason making her mark

Having made her mark as Englands first choice womens rugby number 9, we caught up with New Zealand native Toya Mason as she prepares for a key 6 Nations clash this weekend.

When the England national anthem is belted out at Worcester this Sunday, Toya Mason will be singing as proudly as the rest of her teammates.

But the Wasps scrum-half hasnt always been singing the English tune as the New Zealand native is as proud of her Kiwi roots as she is new new homeland.

Having moved to the UK in 2007, Mason spent time playing club rugby with Blaydon before making enough of an impression to interest England coach Gary Street. Now playing in London with Wasps, she rise to the top has been rapid and she has a simple reason for choosing to run out with England.

I was very close to my granddad who was English and before he died he told me that he would love to see me playing for England. That always stayed with me and since then I wanted to see if I could make it.

Before her rise to the top in England though, Mason was steeped in a traditional New Zealand rugby upbringing. Taking up the game at 13 at Massey High School before going onto play for the Massey Club and then Ponsonby and Auckland. There she played alongside many of the Black Ferns who she would later face in her first ever international appearance for England a moment she says was very emotional.

I knew a lot of the girls that I lined out against in my first cap. It was emotional yes but a lot of the girls knew that I was hoping to play for England even before I left New Zealand so they were 100% behind me. Facing the haka was hard definitely but I was on the bench so I coped fine. In the next game with England A, I started the game so at that stage I had dealt with it.

Mason spent last year shadowing Englands long established Amy Turner who remained Gary Streets first choice right throughout 2010 and during the World Cup.

Since then, an injury to Turner and a rather surprising switch of position to hooker has moved Mason up the pecking order and she is now Streets first choice.

She has thoroughly enjoyed this season.

Being picked to start this year has been amazing and its the result of a lot of hard work in the last few years. I am training harder than I ever have and I have learned so much from the coaches at Wasps and England. I have learned a lot from Amy as well, she is a fantastic player and at club level, I have the experience of Shelley Rae outside me.

With England winning their opening two games, she has also been able to enjoy some excellent results since she took over the number 9 shirt.

Wales was a really tough first game. We knew they were going to come at us and they did. We did well in the Italy game to score a lot of tries but trust me when they were hitting those rucks they were doing it at 100% so it wasnt as easy as people might think. I am lucky to play behind such a good pack I love playing behind them.

Of France she says she expects a much tighter game than Englands last outing.

I have never actually played against France but I know that we are going to be in a really tough battle. I have seen their number 9 play and she is a very good player but my focus will be on how we are going to play. I was in France last year but didnt get off the bench and the atmosphere down there was incredible. Hopefully we can create something like that this week in Worcester and maybe my family will get to watch it because its on Sky here.

Mason has been in touch with her family and friends more than ever this week with events in Christchurch impacting on every New Zealander overseas.

My sister called me in the middle of the night when it was happening - it is just unreal what has happened over there. I know a lot of girls who play in Canterbury but I have heard from them now so thankfully they are safe. It is just unbelievable and I am thinking about them

Seeherefor the England team to play this weekend.

(pictures thanks to Rugby Matters)