Tiegan's triumph as she brings silver medal home to Worksop
Worksop's Tiegan Rider is home from Japan with a silver medal following England women's team triumph in the World Deaf Rugby Sevens Championship.
The 26-year-old who plays for East Retford RUFC and coaches at Worksop Rugby, where she has been a member for many years, said her whole experience in Tokyo was "unforgettable and so surreal".
She said: "Everything about Japan was amazing, we were treated amazingly from start to finish - they went above and beyond to make it an incredible experience.
"We played in three large stadiums, and won five of seven games. We unfortunately lost to Australia in the finals but they were an amazing team to play against.
"The team left everything on the pitch, I’m so proud of the girls.
"I haven’t come home thinking I could’ve done better in my personal performance, I gave my all and brought home the silver!"
It was a double celebration for England as the men’s team won Gold after defeating Australia 45-5 in the final.
Paramedic Tiegan, a former pupil at Outwood Academy Portland, only began playing rugby competitively four years ago, after gaining a scholarship to pursue the sport at Bournemouth University.
She made the World Championship despite injuries to her knee and hip last year that may still require surgery.
Back in Worksop for a well-earned rest, she added: "I’m so very grateful for the support I’ve had….my mum, dad, boyfriend Dylan, my family, Dylan’s family and all my friends back home have been up at all sorts of hours to watch games, most of them being between 2am and 4am UK time."
Tiegan's partner, Dylan Waddell, plays for Worksop RUFC.