By James Reid

There are few better rugby educations than playing alongside Zoe Aldcroft and Alex Matthews. Fortunately for Steph Else, that is exactly what she is doing.

The 21-year-old, who can play in both the second and back row, is learning everything she can from the Red Roses pair who were both named in the 2024 World Rugby Women’s 15 Dream Team of the Year.

It is hard work keeping up with the very best in the business, but that is something the Scarborough native is used to having grown up milking cows on her family's dairy farm.

In fact, Else is relishing the opportunity to pack down every day alongside the players in whose footsteps she wishes to follow in the years to come.

“They are two very important people in the Red Roses squad, to be around them every day and pick up little things is amazing,” she said.

“They are great players but also great people. It is really nice to be around an environment that is really welcoming.

“I have been at Gloucester three years now; they used to be my mentors but now we are more teammates. That’s massive in the push for my development, it definitely helps to be around them a lot.

“They set the standard, and they have set it high, but it is nice to see where they are at and what I can improve on to get there. It is nice to nip at their heels.”

Else is taking on board everything she can as she enters a critical point in her career.

The 21-year-old captained England U20 during the Six Nations Summer Series last year but has now graduated from age-group rugby.

A Red Roses transition contract, plus regular invites to senior training camps is a reflection of the regard in which she is held, but the Gloucester-Hartpury starlet knows bridging the gap to a first senior cap is no mean feat.

“It is probably not an easy place to be in, stuck between two things,” she added.
“It is about keeping having those conversations with Mitch [John Mitchell] to work out what I need to do to keep getting invited into camps. The aim is to keep performing and then hopefully I can get my cap one day.”

Much of Else’s hard yards will be done in the red and white of Gloucester-Hartpury, for whom she has once again played a key role in their pursuit of a third straight Premiership Women's Rugby title.

A 38-7 victory over Leicester Tigers sealed a play-off spot with two games to spare and Else was thrilled to have that goal ticked off in a season that has been more competitive than ever at the top.

“The league has been very unexpected this year, there are a lot of that have come through to really push for those spots,” she said.

“It is very good for the league and the women’s game, it is going to keep people watching. The games have been spectacular to watch and you never know who is going to win.

“We are definitely pushing for that home semi to have the crowd behind us. It is a big advantage, when you have got everyone in the Shed cheering for you, a lot of people say it is like your 16th player, and it really is. They are always behind you.”

The Circus have not had it all their own way this season, losing back-to-back matches in Rounds 3 and 4 before losing again to Bristol Bears in Round 8.

But seven straight victories have powered them to the play-offs once again, and Else is now targeting a special hat-trick of titles to give departing head coach Sean Lynn the perfect send-off.

She said: “Every team is going to have their wobble at some point, it is about working out what needs to change. It showed a lot of resilience from the girls to get through that wobble and still come out on top.

“The girls have really dug deep and it shows the depth of the squad. We have had a lot of girls away but girls coming through have put their hand up for a shirt and it has definitely made Lynny’s life a lot harder having to pick the team each week.

“Because we have gone back-to-back there is always going to be a target on our backs. That was last year, it is a completely different group of girls and we haven’t won anything as this group of girls.

“Things are going to change quite a bit next year, so it would be nice to give Lynny that send-off he deserves. It is something we have been looking forward to all year.

“It is just working hard now for the next few weeks and working out what we can do.”

Keep up with all the news from Premiership Women's Rugby at thepwr.com