A CIVIC reception will be offered to the North-East players involved in England's winning Women's Rugby World Cup campaign.

Victorious captain Katy McLean and number eight Tamara Taylor are members of Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, the club's successful women's side.

The pair are due to arrive back in the UK from Paris on Monday (August 18) evening.

England won the tournament on Sunday evening after completing a 21-9 win over Canada.

Darlington Borough Council leader Bill Dixon said a civic reception would be offered to the Mowden players once the dust had settled on their achievement.

He said: "We will be giving them a civic reception, it's a great result for sport in Darlington.

"There's not many towns can boast a victorious England world cup captain."

The England team's achievement is all the more impressive when weighed against the fact that most of the squad - including McLean and Taylor - hold down full time jobs.

Fly-half McLean, 28, works as a teacher close to her South Tyneside home, while 32-year-old Taylor is a community rugby in the Darlington area.

Mowden coach Danny said both women deserve all the plaudits that come their way, including a civic reception.

He said: "I haven't yet had a chance to speak to the girls and congratulate them on their awesome achievement, I would imagine there was a couple of celebratory drinks poured on Sunday night.

"Both Katy and Tamara had to take time off work to train and participate in the tournament, which shows their huge commitment.

"They are both great role models for any young girls who might be thinking about picking up a rugby ball."