Eden celebrates a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity

A RIPON Grammar School rugby player is celebrating winning a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity which will take her to New Zealand.

Eden Hymas, 17, has been picked for a UK youth 7s women’s rugby team which will be playing against Japan, New Zealand, Australia and the USA in a three-day global tournament at the beginning of December.

Despite her rugby career stalling after she broke her leg in a match at the age of 13, Eden now joins the ranks of the EggChasers academy, the world’s largest professional rugby 7s academy.

Studying English literature, physical education and psychology at A-level, she said: “I was very shocked and so happy, because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said.

She is now trying to raise £3,000 towards the trip through a GoFundMe page.

The winger and fullback, from Ripon, took up rugby only four years ago, following her older brother into the sport, and plays for Yorkshire and West Park Leeds U18s.

She started playing for fun: “I only ever played as a hobby and wasn’t really interested in taking it to a higher level because I didn’t think I had the ability until I trialled for Yorkshire and got in.

“I never expected to get this far,” she says: “I’m inspired by England rugby player Abby Dow due to her skill and how resilient she is especially after her leg surgery last year.”

She had to stop playing for several months when she was 13 after suffering a broken leg in a match against Harrogate.

She now spends up to eight hours a week on her sport.

Visit her fundraising page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fund-to-compete-in-rugby-global-youth-7s