Pip Atkinson

Pip Atkinson-Kennedy (née Atkinson, later Spivey; born 13 December 1964) is a former international rugby union player. A winger, she was among the pioneering generation of women's rugby players, representing Great Britain in 1986 and playing in the first England women's international in 1987. She also played, captained and coached England in rugby sevens, including participation in the first Hong Kong Women's Sevens tournament.

Early life and education Born in Hong Kong, where she spent the first three years of her life, Atkinson was raised in Glastonbury, Somerset, and educated at Millfield School. A gifted all-round sportswoman, she competed in swimming and modern pentathlon and was also ranked nationally in tetrathlon, triathlon and indoor rowing.

Playing career Atkinson developed as a rugby player at Loughborough University, where she was coached by Jim Greenwood. That year she represented Great Britain against France in one of the earliest women's internationals, before being selected for England's inaugural international match against Wales in 1987, a game in which she scored two tries. During this period she scored a hat-trick for England A against the Netherlands and went on to accumulate 22 caps for England, in addition to her earlier appearances for Great Britain.

In 1998 she was selected for England’s squad at the 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup in the Netherlands, bringing her international career to a close shortly afterwards.

She later held senior roles including Head of Girls' Sport at Wells Cathedral School and a teaching position at Dean Close School in Cheltenham. Kennedy coached the England women’s national team between 1999 and 2002, leading the side to two Grand Slams. She has since been known as Pip Atkinson-Kennedy.