Leanne Nicole Infante (née Riley, born 18 July 1993) is an English former rugby union player. She made her debut for England in 2013 and was a finalist in the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup.[1] At club level, she ended her career playing for Saracens.[2]
| Birth name | Leanne Nicole Riley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 18 July 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 65 kg (143 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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International career
editIn 2012, Infante was part of the England 7s team that won the 2012 Hong Kong Women's Sevens. Her debut for the senior England 15s side came in 2013 against South Africa.[1]
At the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup, Infante was part of the England team who took the silver medal.[1]
She scored her first international try at the 2018 Women's Six Nations Championship and was awarded a full time contract with the team in 2019.[1]
She was part of the Grand Slam winning England team at the 2019 Six Nations and was also named to the Super Series squad the same year.[1]
Infante continues to play for the England Women's Rugby Team as of the 2022 Six Nations.[3] She was named in the England squad for the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup held in New Zealand in October and November 2022.[4]
Club career
editInfante joined Saracens Women in 2013 and moved on to Richmond FC in 2015.[3]
In 2017, she won the Women's Premiership with the Aylesford Bulls Ladies - later that year, the club was taken over by Harlequins Ladies where Infante continues to play as a scrum half. She later won the Premier 15s in 2021 for Harlequins before moving to Bristol Bears Women. Infante rejoined Saracens Women for the 2022/3 season.[5]
Riley holds a distinction of winning the Premiership with every side she has represented.[citation needed]
Retirement
editInfante retired from professional rugby union in October 2024.[6][7]
Early life and education
editShe began playing rugby at Park Hill Primary School, Coventry, aged 10. She moved on to the Old Coventrians before playing for both the Worcester and Lichfield U18s.[8][9]
Riley attended Allesley Primary School and Coundon Court Secondary school. She achieved a BTEC National Diploma in Sports Performance and Excellence, and has a sports massage qualification from Southam College.[10]
As well as rugby, Riley is a skilled netball player and has previously played for Warwickshire.[11]
Before she received her full-time England contract, Riley worked as a sports massage therapist and gym receptionist.
Riley is an ambassador for the Harlequins' Switch initiative and the Lions Sports Academy, which involves her encouraging young people to try rugby and offering coaching.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "RFU". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ May 2020, Joe Harvey Friday 8. "Leanne Riley: It's the unknown we are having to adapt to". Talking Rugby Union. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "RFU". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ "Rugby World Cup: Sadia Kabeya and Morwenna Talling in England squad". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Leanne Infante signs for Saracens".
- ^ "'England rejection hurt' - Infante retires from rugby". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "Leanne Infante to retire from rugby". saracens.com. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "Hotshots: Saracens youngster Leanne Riley". Rugby World. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ Edmonds, Lizzie (27 February 2017). "Female rugby star urges schools to give girls chance to try the sport". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ "Leanne Riley - Women 1XV - Saracens Amateur RFC Limited". www.saracensamateurrugby.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ Max. "Leanne Riley". Women's Rugby Data : ALL the stats. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ "England Rugby and Harlequins star motivates young girls to join in on the scrum". Richmond and Twickenham Times. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
External links
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