RYEDALE wasn’t far from Rachel Lund’s mind when she took to the stage for invitational side Barbarians against Springboks Ladies.

The former Malton & Norton junior was invited to turn out for the world-famous team as the curtain raiser to the Springboks’ test with the All Blacks last weekend.

Across her career, the 29-year-old has turned out for Malton, Worcester, Gloucester-Hartpury, England U20s and seniors, and now the Barbarians.

As is custom for the Barbarians, players wear one sock representing their national team and the other their club team. Lund opted to don both Malton’s colours and those of current employers Gloucester in a nod to her Ryedale roots.

Lund in action for club side Gloucester-Hartpury.Lund in action for club side Gloucester-Hartpury. (Image: PA)

She came off the bench to play the final 25 minutes on the left wing, proving her worth with a series of try-saving tackles to keep the Springboks at bay. 

However, the Barbarians finished on the wrong end of a 47-17 scoreline.

Lund is the second former Malton player to play for the Barbarians. In the early seventies Bill Reichwald, whilst a pupil at Ampleforth was loaned by John Wilcox for the odd game, and after a long career he was rewarded with a Barbarian call up in March 19991 against East Midlands.

She was not the only Ryedale talent playing international rugby this weekend. 

In Korea Harriet Witty, daughter of former Malton second row Peter and sister to England Under 20s, Newcastle and Exeter star Will, played in the Asia Rugby Sevens series for United Arab Emirates where she lives and works. 

She started playing rugby at the age of 15, going on to feature for Leeds Met University in two finals at Twickenham, losing both times to Cardiff University.

She has been in the UAE sevens set up for 11 years and plays regular rugby for club side Dubai Hurricanes.