Samantha Way has been selected for England's touch-rugby team for the World Cup in New Zealand in January.

Samantha is only 15, but she has forced her way into the team of Under-18s.

The Moredon girl is making a big impact in the 15-a-side game.

She is captain of Gloucester Under-16s, and plays for the South West.

She is also in the England Under-16s team, but it is difficult for them to find any opponents among the Northern Hemisphere nations.

"We haven't got any international sides to play against," said Samantha. "I am dying for a game.

"We are waiting for other places to develop. In the Southern Hemisphere, girls play more touch rugby. I went out to Australia last year with the England team.

"Touch rugby is unbelievable. It is a completely different game it is so fast and tactical.

"It is six-a-side and you have continuous rolling subs. We don't play it much over here. We just train for regular rugby union with the England squad."

When Samantha played with the England team last October, they didn't do particularly well, which was not surprising given that most of the squad had barely played any touch rugby before they went Down Under.

This time, however, they are better prepared and have been training hard.

Unfortunately for Samantha, there is not a lot of money in ladies' rugby. She has to raise £1,100 for the trip and she gets no expenses when she has to travel all over the country for training sessions.

Samantha plays in the back row in full contact rugby.

She said: "I am not that tall 5ft 4in so I am a flanker in the mould of Leicester and England number six Neil Back. He is my hero."

Samantha began her rugby with Swindon RFC, where she played alongside the boys in the Under-12s for a season. After that, she had to move on, because the regulations stipulate that the sexes must be separated.

"Swindon rugby have been fantastic," she said. "I started playing there and they have been just like a family to me."