Position
Center
Test Caps
26
Club
Gloucester-Hartpury Womens RFC
Age
29
Tatyana Heard
Tatyana was born in Pisa, Italy where her family lived for two years during her father’s time in the US Army. They then moved to Maryland, USA, before returning to the UK to live in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire near to her mother’s family. She picked up a ball aged 11 at Malton and Norton RUFC before going on to play for West Park Leeds, Bristol, Pontyclun and Cardiff Met WRFC with whom she won the 2016 BUCS Final at Twickenham Stadium. Having ruptured her ACL aged 17 and sidelined for 18 months, Tatyana missed out on the opportunity to capitalise on her England U20 squad call up. However impressive performances for Gloucester-Hartpury in the Tyrrells Premiers 15s led to a call up for the 2018 Quilter Internationals where she made two starts and was awarded a full-time contract in 2019. She started the opening two games of the 2019 Women’s Six Nations at inside centre playing her part as the Red Roses won the Grand Slam. She featured in the Red Roses squad that made the final of the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup, and featured in Simon Middleton’s squad at the 2023 Six Nations Championship. Later that year, Tatyana was named in the Red Roses squad for the inaugural WXV tournament in New Zealand before retaining her spot in John Mitchell’s squad for the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
- Career Path
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2014 Bristol Bears Women II
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2017 Gloucester-Hartpury Womens RFC Gloucester-Hartpury Womens RFC II
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2018 England Women
The inside centre, who wears 12, and outside centre, wearing 13, have similar roles but often specialise. The 12 becomes first receiver if the fly half is unavailable and is generally larger, able to tackle big opponents, take the lead and distribute the ball for tactical advantage. The outside centre is robust and able to step around defenders at pace, adaptable and with the speed of a wing.