France centre Marjorie Mayans believes the Women’s Rugby World Cup could be her team’s chance to win the hearts of the French public.
Les Bleues won three games in the 2017 Women’s Six Nations and finished third behind England and their Pool C opponents at the World Cup Ireland.
Mayans, 26, played at the last World Cup in 2014, when hosts France lost 18-16 to Canada in the semi-final.
And this time around Mayans, who also competed in last year’s Olympics, believes her side can go even further and, in doing so, continue to grow the women’s game in France.
She said: “Since the last World Cup in 2014, women’s rugby is in the media much more.”
“It’s true that people were a bit surprised to see women on the TV and those who knew nothing about it had some negative assumptions about women’s rugby.
“But after watching the matches, there was a turning point, like something triggered a change in people’s perspective.
“If we get the results with the women’s team this summer, women’s rugby will be more in the spotlight because great teams get the public’s attention through their results.”
Mayans took up rugby after joining in with training at her little brother’s club when she was just nine years old.
Now, the Olympian says France are in good spirits and eager to get to Ireland, where they face Australia, Ireland and Japan in Pool C, and show what they are capable of.
She added: “I can’t wait to go to Ireland. We’ve got a great group, we’ve been having a great time during preparation, but we’re so excited to play over there.
“When you’re into sport, going to competition is always the most exciting thing, it’s also the most stressful, but it’s what we love.”
