A Devon student refused to let a devastating knee injury stop her from seizing a dream role at the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Ashleigh Rollins, 20, from South Molton, spent four weeks working as a paid media intern for World Rugby at Sandy Park in Exeter during the tournament, while waiting for surgery on a ruptured ligament and torn meniscus.

“It was incredible being picked for the internship and I was determined nothing would get in my way,” said Ms Rollins, a second-year BA Sports Journalism student at Plymouth Marjon University.

“I found myself spending four weeks straight at Sandy Park, watching the games and interviewing some of the biggest names on the planet. And I got paid to do it.”

Her job was to sit in press conferences, record quotes and send them to editors for the Rugby News Service.

“I’d see my work used by the BBC and other national and international media,” she said.

“It was daunting at first as there were other journalists in the room but I quickly gained confidence in asking questions.”

Ms Rollins met stars including New Zealand’s Braxton Sorensen-McGee and Canada’s finalists.

“Even with the smaller teams like South Africa and Fiji it was amazing seeing their passion for their sport,” she said.

“And one of the Welsh players reached out to me on Instagram after I’d put up a post about my injury. She had the same thing and offered me advice and support.”

Just days before England’s win in the final, Ms Rollins had surgery on 23 September.

“Plymouth Marjon have been very supportive after my injury, and especially my lecturers who have been incredibly understanding about the situation,” she said.

She said she now wanted to get back in the game she loved playing as soon as possible.

“My phsyio said that my progress is great. I’m doing everything I should be doing and, hopefully, in 12 months’ time, I will be back on the pitch,” she said.