SWINDON'S Jaine Lock faces her proudest moment next week when she captains England's women on a rugby tour of South Africa.

The former Swindon Supermarine player, who now plays her club rugby in Worcester, will lead out England A for the three-week tour.

It is the first time an English women's international side has toured South Africa.

The tour is designed to promote the South African game and Lock is honoured to be picked to lead the England team.

"I am really excited and proud to be captaining the side," said the 31-year-old.

"I never captained a side going onto the pitch before, only during a game when the captain's gone off, so it is a very different role for me.

"I am, however, one of the most experienced players in the team with 10 A team caps, so I am looking forward to it."

Unlike the women's game in England, South Africa are developing the sport from international level down to grass roots.

But Lock knows this tour will be especially hard for her team.

"We know they will play hard rugby and it will be a tough tour. But we played a tour in Australia and New Zealand where we played three games in just a week, so that will stand us in good stead.

"Playing three games in three weeks in South Africa will really help the team, training-wise and to bond better.

"I think we are tactically better than the South Africans, so although they will play hard, we will try to get to get the ball out wide and beat them that way."

Lock's first game in charge will be in the Pretoria 52,000 all-seater stadium and she is relishing the moment.

"It will be fantastic to play in that stadium, a great experience for all of us."

England's senior women are currently on tour of Canada in the Super 4s and, although Lock admits that it is her dream to represent the full side, captaining the A squad is almost an even greater honour.

Lock is currently named as reserve for England's senior squad so it is surely only a matter of time before she breaks through.

"It is obviously my ambition to play for the seniors and I am already named as reserve for them. But I am so proud that the selectors have picked me as captain for this development tour. It is almost a greater honour."

Keeping an avid eye on Lock's progress on the tour of South Africa will be husband Andrew and her 10-year-old daughter Robyn.

The rugby-playing mum added: "I have the full support of my family as always.

They used to wonder what all the fuss was about playing all this rugby but they they totally understand. They back me 100 per cent."