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Page last updated at 10:25 GMT, Wednesday, 18 August 2010 11:25 UK

Catrina Nicholas column

Women's Rugby World Cup 2010
Venue: Surrey Sports Park, Guildford (group stages and play-off matches) and Twickenham Stoop (semis and final) Dates: Fri 20 August - Sun 5 September
Coverage: Watch main matches live on Sky Sports, Highlights of knock-out stages on BBC Sport website (UK users only)


Catrina Nicholas
Catrina Nicholas on the attack for Wales against Scotland in the 2010 Six Nations

The Wales back-rower looks ahead to the start of the Women's Rugby World Cup

We've settled in quickly to our World Cup home in Surrey - so much so that we already have an unmistakeable Welsh rugby feel to return to.

All the tournament's teams are staying at University of Surrey's sports halls of residence at their sports park in Guildford and we've divided up our block into four families with six or seven team members to each floor.

There's the Edwards clan - after Gareth, of course - the Quinnells - enough said there too - the Williamses - JPR - and the Joneses - Stephen.

They all sent us good luck messages for the competition before we left Wales on Monday and have now given their surnames to our groups for the in-house activities we hope will provide some relief from the rigours of training and playing.

Wales stronger for Cup - James

Not that the thought of facing Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the coming weeks is very far from our thoughts.

All of that has been in the background since we arrived in Guildford. We were straight into training, doing our weights for the week and working on our unit skills in preparation for what lies ahead.

Our first ambition is to win our group. We know from the outside it looks a tall order, starting with the game against Australia on Friday.

But within the camp, we are happy to be the team no-one is talking about or taking much notice of in the build-up to the kick-off.

WRU chief executive Roger Lewis and head of performance Joe Lydon have told us they will be at the game against Australia on Friday and that's a big deal for us.

They were there to see us off on Monday, said a few words wishing us all the best and it would be good to put on a good show for the bosses in the game.

We're holding our own versions of Come Dine With Me and Surrey's Got Talent

Catrina Nicholas

There'll hopefully also be some memorable performances off the field in the meantime as the Edwardses, Quinnells, Williamses and Joneses do battle on at least two fronts.

We're holding our own versions of Come Dine With Me and Surrey's Got Talent, which will hopefully keep us entertained and amused in our down time.

I haven't yet told one of my fellow Williams clan what I'll be cooking, but can tell BBC Sport Wales online - it'll be lasagne, made from scratch including the white sauce.

Hopefully that will go as well as our training has gone so far. The emphasis has been on short, intense sessions with the mantra that we want to play as we train.

We have a leadership group of senior players who meet with head coach Jason Lewis and the rest of the management and the message we're emphasising is about being ready for the intensity of the games ahead.

Catrina Nicholas was talking to BBC Sport Wales' Gareth Roberts


Wales Women's World Cup squad:

Forwards: Jenny Davies, Lowri Harries, Catrin Edwards, Rhian Bowden, Gemma Hallett, Shona Powell-Hughes, Louise Rickard, Rachel Taylor, Catrina Nicholas, Jamie Kift (capt), Sioned Harries, Lisa Newton, Caryl Thomas.

Backs: Amy Day, Laura Prosser, Awen Thomas, Naomi Thomas, Mared Evans, Clare Flowers, Ceri Redman, Mellissa Berry (capt), Caryl James, Non Evans, Elinor Snowsill, Elen Evans.

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