rugby union By Amanda Little

Last updated 09:51, Friday, 26 September 2008

Move over Mike Tindall – Katie Wigham is vying to become one of England’s best rugby union centres.

Honour: Lucy Meadley, left, and Katie Wigham have been picked to play in the England Super 4s

Katie has her sights firmly set on being selected for host nation England at the 2010 Women’s World Cup.

Fellow Cumbrian Lucy Meadley is following in her footsteps by also taking part in a series of trial matches to win an international place.

Katie, 24, has already been snapped up by Women’s Premiership side Team Northumbria after starting her career at Carlisle Cougars six years ago.

Now, along with Cougars captain Lucy, who turns 26 on Monday, she has been picked to play in four trial matches to select 44 England players.

After coming through regional trials, they are now among an elite number of girls picked for England’s high performance academy, known as the Super 4s.

They have already played in one trial game and are preparing for another crunch date on Sunday at Birmingham University.

Katie, from Kirklinton, near Carlisle, said: “My dream is to play for England and that’s what I’m aspiring to. I’ve trained really hard over the summer, six days a week, to make sure I get into the England 44.”

Lucy, from Carlisle, began playing rugby while studying at Durham University, but admits the 2010 World Cup may have come too soon for her.

She said: “It would be nice to be in the England team but realistically I’m there for experience at the moment.

“My chance to play for England might come further down the line. Playing against top players at top level is something we’re not used to but it’s been great experience.”