Would success in the rugby league World Cup have a big effect on the domestic game?
To win the World Cup would give the game a tremendous boost, raise its profile nationally and attract more people into playing. We aren’t the favourites, but we are in with a shout and I can’t wait for it to start. You were the first woman chairman in rugby league – did you encounter much resistance and do you still? I did encounter some resistance at first but I am part of the furniture now. Women are far more easily accepted in both sport and business these days – not before time. How do you look back now on what was achieved at Sheffield Eagles and do you take an interest in how they fare these days? What Gary [husband Gary Hetherington] and I achieved at Sheffield was remarkable, with no money and no assistance from the governing body at the time. We were young, keen and naïve and had a passion for the game that drove us on during some difficult times. I don’t believe what we did at Sheffield would be possible today as you would have to have a lot more money than the £13,000, earne
