Gill Burns

Gill Burns (MBE, b. 12 July 1964) is a former rugby union player who represented England between 1998 and 2002, including when they won the 1994 Women's Rugby World Cup. She also captained her country between 1994 and 1999. She was selected for England only one year after first playing rugby union. She went on to play in four World Cups, including the inaugural Women's Rugby World Cup – hosted by Wales in 1991. – where England lost to the United States 19–6. Burns was also made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her services to sport in 2005.

One season after retiring from the England squad Gill was asked to captain the first ever Women's World XV for their 2 test series in New Zealand. After retiring as a player, Gill was appointed President of the Rugby Football Union for Women – who helped administer the Women's game in England – and also worked briefly as a guest commentator for Sky Sports. Burns was the first woman to be made a Privileged Member of the RFU in 2012 and she was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame on 17 November 2014.