Hardcastle first began playing rugby for Siddal whilst she was studying at college and noticed a poster advertising a women’s team.
“I plucked up the the courage and went,” she said. “That was massive for me, because I really struggled in new environments.
“There was a union club near where I grew up. I used to knock about with the lads on a Friday. They used to say, ‘you’re one of the lads, you should get involved’.”
Hardcastle played football and other sports.
“With football, I used to give penalties away,” she said. “With rugby, I could use my strength, speed and power.”
Discovering rugby also gave Hardcastle the focus that she felt she needed at the time.
“When I was 17, I started going out. I’d tell my mum, ‘I’m just sleeping at so-and-sos’ – when, actually, I was partying. When I started playing rugby, I thought, ‘this is what I want to do’.”
Aged 20, Hardcastle played her first Test match for England, against France.
“I’m super proud of how far I’ve come,” she reflected.
“It’s been a long journey with lots of tears. I’ve got 21 tries for England, the top try-scorer, a double treble-winner, named in world’s best team and team of decade in 2020. As if I’ve done all this!”