Amber shines in South Africa (From Stroud News and Journal)

Amber shines in South Africa

AMBER PENRITH is certainly making a name for herself in top-class women's rugby if her recent performance in South Africa is anything to go by. Not even a bout of food poisoning could deter the King's Stanley flyer during the recent three match three-week trip as a member of the England development squad.

And the 22-year-old enjoyed a sparkling England baptism by scoring a brace of tries in England's 95-0 shredding of Natal Sharks and eclipsed this against a South African Presidents side, overwhelming them 45-0 with yet another brace of tries.

"It went really well for me," Amber told the SNJ on Tuesday morning. "In my first match I managed to come off the wing and got involved in the rucks and malls."

But it could have been all so different for Amber.

She was set to start the first tour clash against the Blue Bulls but fell ill shortly before the game.

"It must of been something I had eaten and I ended up on a drip." But fortunately Amber recovered in time to push her claims for full selection to the fore with her two eye-catching displays.

Amber, a former Maidenhill and Archway School sixth former plays her club rugby at Premiership side Worcester.

She first caught the attention of England selectors when she played for UWIC, while studying for a degree in sports science at Cardiff University, which she gained last year.

Amber was initially selected for the England Students team which beat Wales A and Scotland Students last year and has now worked her way through England Academy trials and into the performance development academy.

Her elevation to the touring development side was earned after an unnerving display in the England Academy's 18-10 victory over the USA under 23 side earlier this year.

Promising Amber showed her mettle with two tries in that match and duly caught the eye of England Women's coach Gary Street to book her seat on the plane to South Africa.

The future is certainly bright for Amber.