Charlie Woodman has a long history with Gloucester’s Kingsholm Stadium, even if she cannot quite remember it.
Her father is former England World Cup-winning prop Trevor Woodman who spent eight years playing at the club and is the forwards coach there today.
The winger was just seven years old when her father left the club in 2004 to play for Sale and says that time is a “distant memory”. But the reminders are visible everywhere for her in the pictures from his playing days on the club’s walls.
“It’s cool to be able to say you can follow in his footsteps as such. I never planned to play at Gloucester because dad did, but the way it’s come around is really nice and although dad won’t admit it, he loves the fact that I’m here,” Woodman told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
Woodman marked her debut for Gloucester-Hartpury last weekend with a try in their 57-29 win over Leicester Tigers on their first game of the new season, having signed this summer.
The 27-year-old spent the previous year playing in New Zealand for Super Rugby side Matatu Rugby and with Great Britain’s sevens team.
Woodman moved to the other side of the world after leaving Exeter Chiefs at the end of 2022-23 after two seasons, somewhat disillusioned with the sport and unsure if she was going to play in the Premiership again.
“It sort of felt like at one point you were always fighting for something and not getting anything back for it,” Woodman added.
“Going away, putting no pressure on yourself and enjoying the game, I was out there to do a bit of travelling as well. It just gave me a whole new perspective on the game and I’ve just come back and was loving it again.
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to come back to a Prem club. But I honestly sort of re-found my love for the sport, I know it’s corny to say.”
