Maggie Alphonsi

Born with a club foot, Margaret, known by many as Maggie the Machine, has turned early adversity into a remarkable career which has seen the Saracens flanker awarded an MBE in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for Services to Rugby, something the experienced player described as “incredible”.
She has played in three XVs Rugby World Cups and in 2014 she played an influential part in the England team winning the World Cup. In 2012 she also shared in a record-breaking seventh successive Six Nations title and a sixth Grand Slam in seven years with the England team.
Maggie has also picked up a number of high-profile awards. In 2011, she was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Bedfordshire for her services to rugby, she has been named in the Powerlist for three years running, a highly respected publication which profiles 100 of the most influential people of African and African-Caribbean descent in Britain. There was also the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year