Tonbridge rugby captain shows naked ambition with Twickenham streak

IT'S most rugby players' dream to step out on to the pitch at Twickenham – but not quite like this.

The captain of a Tonbridge women's rugby team ventured on to the hallowed turf on Sunday wearing nothing but sunglasses and a stick-on moustache.

Spurred on by the conviction that men should not hog the limelight when it comes to streaking, Tonbridge Juddians Ladies' skipper Miriam Taylor made the daring dash from the stand during the London Sevens tournament.

After removing her Village People fancy dress costume and hurdling advertising hoardings, the 27-year-old Danvers Road resident raced 50m from the halfway line to the posts where she performed a cartwheel for 43,000 cheering fans.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013

Sidestepping two stewards with an accomplished body swerve, she then raced another 20m upfield before being tackled by a large male steward, handcuffed and led away wrapped in a hi-viz jacket.

The fitness instructor told the Courier her one-woman pitch invasion – which took place at half-time during the event's final – was all a bit of a blur.

"I remember there being a roar from the crowd but I was just running on adrenaline," she said. "All I remember is feeling the grass on my bare feet and just thinking, 'Run run run'.

"All I wanted to do was get the cartwheel in. I knew I was going to get tackled at some stage so I wasn't that bothered about being caught after that, although it wasn't a very good tackle."

Miss Taylor, a former Courier reporter, said she was inspired to perform the stunt after seeing a succession of male streakers at the Army v Navy match on the same ground in April.

"It was so funny to watch," she said. "I just thought, 'There's a massive niche there for a female streaker'.

"I don't know how long it has been since there was a female streaker at Twickenham, but I do know Erica Roe did it in 1982 and she was only topless." Miss Taylor was cautioned and fined £80 for committing an offence under the Public Order Act before being given a pair of trousers to wear and released.

Hundreds of friends have since congratulated her for her exploits, declaring her a "legend".

"Friends I haven't seen for years have been making comments on Facebook," she said.

"It hasn't really sunk in that I've done it. I still laugh when I think about it. It's something I'm never going to forget."

She added: "I don't know if I would be allowed, but I would love to go back there and play. They do hold non-premiership and international tournaments there, so you never know. I don't plan to do a streak again though."