Wales icon Burgess inducted into World Rugby Hall of Fame

The former number eight, captain and coach received the accolade along with Stephen Larkham, Ronan O’Gara, Bryan Williams and Pierre Villepreux, becoming inductee number 142 and the tenth woman to join the list.

Burgess, known as 'Bird', was at the forefront of Welsh women's rugby for nearly three decades.

During an illustrious playing career, she played in Wales' very first international against England in 1987 where she led the side from No 8.

Twenty years later and with 93 caps to her name, including six appearances for Great Britain, she finished her Test career in the 2007 Women's Six Nations.

Burgess captained Wales on 62 occasions, participated in six World Cups - four as a player and two as assistant coach - and was assistant coach for the inaugural Barbarians women's team last year.

She learned to play rugby at Loughborough University and played for Wasps and Saracens while working as a teacher in London before ending her playing days with Clifton after getting a job closer to home in Bristol.

“I'm lucky to have played a sport I love and to be honoured in this way is unbelievable. It's genuinely difficult to put into words how I feel. All the other players being inducted are all phenomenal,” said Burgess, who also had a spell coaching the women’s team at Cross Keys.

“I'm just really honoured to be inducted alongside Stephen Larkham, Ronan O'Gara, Pierre Villepreux and Bryan Williams who are all legends of the game.

“This award has come out of the blue and something I would never have expected but hopefully it shows that women's rugby is here to stay."