My name is Oliva Hill, and I am currently privileged to play for Warrington Wolves in the Women’s Super League. My pathway started at the age of 14, where I went down to trial out for the local girls rugby team who were looking to develop a community team. On that first session, there were only 6 of us who attended and at the time it felt like we would never have enough for a full squad to develop. Towards the end of my very first season of playing rugby league I suffered my first serious injury at the Lancashire cup final, where we then went on to win it.

My journey started in 2019, so I didn’t have long of playing or training until COVID-19 kicked in. However, the coaches and support staff at my community club did a great job in keeping us engaged and motivated as a team through online sessions and social events.

I went on to continue to play for open age teams both during the winter and summer leagues at Wigan St Pats and Warrington Lunas. I remember I played my first game for Pats the week I turned 17 and it felt like such a big step up. Since then, my confidence and physicality has grown with plenty of hard graft even with moments of doubt in myself along the way.

I was invited to join the Warrington Wolves academy where I could further progress my pathway to where I am today. At the end of the day, I’m just a girl from Warrington, living her dream, and I believe that if you want to play rugby league at the highest level, if your committed and motivated, you’ll go far.