A FORMER Wilmslow High School sixth-form student featured for England in the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final on Saturday.

Harriet Millar-Mills was unable to help her country retain the title after joining the action against New Zealand off the bench for the final 16 minutes in Belfast.

The 26-year-old and her Red Roses teammates succumbed 41-32 to the Black Ferns in an epic decider at Ulster’s Kingspan Stadium.

England had led 17-10 at the break but were trailing 36-25 at the point Lichfield back-rower Millar-Mills was introduced.

It was a heartbreaking ending to her first world cup campaign for the two-times Women’s Premiership Players’ Player of the Year.

The maths teacher at Tudor Hall Boarding and Day School in Banbury went into the showpiece showdown having achieved her 50th cap in the 20-3 semi-final victory over France, also in Belfast, last Tuesday.

Millar-Mills was also called on as a replacement in the two Pool B wins against USA and Italy at Billings Park UCD in Dublin, while she was among the try scorers at number six in the opening win against Spain.

She has been a regular for her country since 2011.

Her elder siblings Bridget and Elliot have also played rugby at international level, for Scotland and England Counties respectively, and a family training session is never far away.

Stockport-born Millar-Mills first tried the sport aged eight at Manchester Rugby Club after going to watch her brother train and play.

She joined in with the boys at the age of 12 before transferring to a girls’ team in Chester Millar-Mills was selected to join the RFU’s national talent development group when she was 15.

She progressed through the under 18s and under 20s groups playing number eight and second row.

Her first England senior game came at the age of 20.