Scorpions flyhalf selected for Eastern Counties

Ipswich Scorpions flyhalf Vicky Archer has been selected for the Eastern Counties women’s rugby squad.

The 21-year-old University of Essex student, from Colchester, caught the selectors’ eyes during the trials at Harlow Rugby Club on Sunday.

Competing against players from clubs around the southeast of England from Hertfordshire to Lincolnshire and including all of East Anglia, the petite firebrand has the chance to impress selectors at a higher level with the potential to follow in the footsteps of Ipswich’s Emily-Jane Stearn, who played for England Students while at university five years ago.

Archer was one of a small number of late additions to the squad following the trial, with 20 of the 30-strong squad selected beforehand and 10 of the final selections decided by Sunday’s performances.

The current back leader at Ipswich Scorpions and leader of the team Best and Fairest awards so far this season, Archer has made a massive impact on the team with her skilful kicking and ferocious tackling.

The obvious indicator of her influence was when Archer was unavailable to play in the away match against Hove. The Scorpions backline disintegrated without the leadership of Archer and Stearn, despite players such as the talented Jessica Fletcher performing well when switched to flyhalf during the 51-10 defeat.

Archer features on the cover of the Ipswich Scorpions: Floodlit 2006 calendar which is on sale through Ipswich Rugby Club or through team manager Karen Fletcher.

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