Val Blackett

Valerie Naomi Blackett (born December 1967) is an English former rugby union player who represented the England women’s national team during the early 1990s. A back who played primarily on the wing before later moving to fly-half, she was a member of the England squad that won the 1994 Women's Rugby World Cup.

Early life and family Blackett was born in Bath, Somerset, into a family with strong links to rugby. She was the daughter of Erwin Berkly Moefield Blackett (1932–1988), originally from Barbados , and Miriam Naomi Blackett (née Babb) (1935–1984), who married in Bath in 1963.

She had two brothers, known as Pete and Andy, both of whom played rugby locally. Pete Blackett played as a wing for Bath Rugby before later moving to Keynsham, while Andy Blackett was a prop with Old Culverhaysians. Contemporary reports noted that she followed her brothers into rugby. In representative matches she was noted for her ability to break through defences, being described as making “scorching runs”.

Later club career Following her international career, Blackett continued to play at a high level in club rugby. In 1996 she was still involved in representative rugby while playing for Clifton, including selection for South teams in inter-regional fixtures.

In 1997 she joined Cheltenham Ladies in National Premier Division Two, where she made an immediate impact by scoring the winning try on her debut against Worcester. During this period she underwent a significant positional change, moving from her established role on the wing to outside half, taking on greater responsibility in organising play.

Later accounts indicate that she returned to play in Bristol and continued her career well beyond the typical span for amateur-era players. She remained active into her late 40s, retiring around 2015, and has since continued to take part in occasional rugby sevens matches.