Carmen Castellucci: A 'dream' to play at Twickenham as Gloucester-Hartpury meet Harlequins in Big Game 15

Carmen Castellucci is looking forward to playing at Twickenham for the first time when Gloucester-Hartpury take on Harlequins Women in 'Big Game 15' - live on TNT Sports - on Saturday, December 30.

Castellucci joined Gloucester-Hartpury ahead of the 2023-24 season from Paris-based side AC Bobigny 93.

She has made three appearances for Gloucester and produced a team of the week performance in Round 2.

Castellucci says it will be a "dream" to run out at Twickenham, the home of English rugby, in front of a bumper crowd.

"It would be a dream to play in a place like that at Twickenham," the back rower said.

"I've never been there before so I don't know what to expect but everyone speaks of Big Game so well.

"I've never played before in a stadium like that with so many people watching so I'm not really nervous now, but I certainly will be when we get there as it's a dream for me.

"My experienced team-mates are more used to it so I guess they will help me to get that confidence in time."

Castellucci, who is one of several Spanish players to come to England to play the game, says the league's partnership with TNT Sports should help grow the sport.

"England is leading the way in showing live rugby and growing the women's game," she said.

"For me, one of the biggest parts of growing the game is showing it in media and making it more accessible to the people that are not in the stadium watching it.

"Obviously, rugby in Spain is quite raw still and is very far from being professional and there's not many girls playing the sport at the moment.

"So coming to England, there's this professionalism around it and it's quite a big thing.

"In the two years I spent in France, my family couldn't watch me play one game without being there in person so I think the TNT coverage is very exciting.

"For Big Game, young girls don't have to be in London to watch us play.

"To have those role models and see and watch the game on TV allows them to dream of being there themselves."

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