Rugby world cup winners hope the women's game will snowball after helping more than 100 schoolgirls in an open event.

Rocky Clark, Vicky Fleetwood and Kat Merchant, who played in the world cup-winning side in France this year, were “delighted” to see more than double the expected number of school girls from schools in Barnet and Enfield attend the open day at Bramley Sports ground, in Southgate.

The girls were put through their paces in different activities as well as taking part in a question and answer session with the three England internationals.

Rocky Clark said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for girls to come out and experience playing rugby. I can see some exciting talent in there already.

“Hopefully women’s rugby can now go from strength to strength. With the Olympics coming up in a couple of years as well, we hope this can be a catalyst.”

New Saracens recruit Vicky Fleetwood admitted the team had no idea how much the national side was being supported at home during the World Cup.

She said: “It was like we was in a massive bubble over there and we had no idea about the backing we had in England.

“All the girls here seem really positive about playing rugby. It is a sport like no other and I would advise all girls to give it a go because it’s so much fun.”

The trio brought along the world cup trophy to help inspire more girls to take up the sport.

Josh Ward, of Saracens, believes that there has been a boom in participation since the women’s success in June.

He said: “We want to create an after school club to get more girls taking part. To have three rugby world cup winners down here is such an inspiration to these girls.

“We have hosted events in the past but when you get international winners down here it gives girls something to aspire to and we have double the girl we was hoping for which is encouraging.”