FORMER Ellingham & Ringwood ace Poppy Cleall admitted it had been "bitterly disappointing" to miss out on Women's Rugby World Cup glory.

Cleall and Poole-born Amy Wilson Hardy played their part in getting the Red Roses into the final in Belfast, where they lost 41-32 to New Zealand.

“It was really exciting to play in my first World Cup, particularly with all the television and media coverage," said Cleall.

"But it was bitterly disappointing to lose to New Zealand in the final."

Following the tournament, Cleall met Prime Minister Theresa May at Downing Street en route to Ellingham's Raymond Brown Memorial Ground headquarters.

She showed off her silver medal to her former coach Steve Benson, her old team-mates and the first-team squad, and also signed and donated one of her World Cup shirts.

Ellingham plan to frame the jersey and display it at the club.

Alderholt-raised Cleall played for the Es from under-seven to under-18 level, save for one year at Salisbury.

A former pupil at The Burgate School and Fordingbridge Junior School, Cleall is equally adept at second-row and back-row and has a Women's Premiership title on her CV.

She earned her first international cap when she came off the bench in last year's Women's Six Nations win over Scotland.