Born: 10 June, 1958 in Waconia, Minnesota, USA 

Growing up in Minnesota, USA, Sue Dorrington was an avid sportswoman, enjoying running, horse riding and water skiing.

It was when she started playing rugby in the early 1980s, however, that she says she found a community of like-minded people.

Her passion for the oval-ball game was such that in 1983 she moved to London in search of more competitive rugby. Her quest eventually took her to Finchley, where she would meet Deborah Griffin and Mary Forsyth, and onto Richmond, where they were joined by Alice D. Cooper.

Dorrington worked as a charity fundraiser and was experienced in dealing with sponsorship and commercial contracts, so when Griffin started to plan the inaugural women’s Rugby World Cup, she was a natural choice as commercial manager.

By this time, and following a switch from centre to hooker, Dorrington had represented both Great Britain and England in tests.

She therefore juggled her role on the organising committee with a quest to become England’s starting hooker at RWC 1991. The dual role came in handy as she organised complimentary accommodation for the England squad in Cardiff.

Dorrington missed the official opening ceremony as she looked after Griffin’s daughter, Victoria, but the following day lined up at hooker for England against Spain in Swansea.

It was a position she did not relinquish for the rest of the tournament, starting the 19-6 final defeat to her native USA at Cardiff Arms Park on 14 April, 1991.

Three years later, Dorrington captained England against Scotland at RWC 1994 but didn’t play in the final when England beat the defending champions USA 38-23. After playing her final test in 1997, she continued to run out for Richmond with distinction, being the only player in the club’s history to represent Richmond over three decades, holding her first team place and missing one game only. Dorrington was recently named in Richmond’s all-time dream team. 

Dorrington was also Richmond’s first-ever female vice-president.