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Harlequins fullback Orla Proctor talks balancing military duty and rugby dreams

Orla Proctor leads out Harlequins before their PWR match against Sale Sharks on Remembrance Sunday. Credit: Harlequins - Andrew Fosker/Shutterstock

For Orla Proctor, rugby is far more than a game; it’s a journey. At 21, she’s already charted a path marked by dedication and resilience—from her early days at Stirling County, moving through Leicester, and now making her Premiership debut with Harlequins. But Proctor’s rugby dreams are just one side of her story.

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As a member of the Royal Air Force, she also balances her military duties with her rugby ambitions, a dual commitment that demands serious discipline, unwavering focus, and an undeniable love for both fields. 

Proctor spoke with RugbyPass about her journey, her dual commitments, and her dreams for the future.

From ballet shoes to rugby boots

While Proctor’s roots are firmly embedded in rugby, her journey didn’t start there. 

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“There were a few reasons I got into rugby. My friend had been playing for a few years, and my sister had just started as well. Our area was big on rugby. 

“I actually started out as a dancer – I used to do ballet. When I realised that wasn’t for me, I began going to my brother’s rugby games, and eventually, I gave it a go myself. From there, I never looked back.

Her passion for the game quickly blossomed, and she went from strength to strength. 

“In my first year, I won the ‘Most Improved Player’ award at my club. I just remember being so tough and deciding not to look back, that wasn’t me. 

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“Playing for Stirling County was great – I was playing with all my friends. Many other Scottish teams struggled for girls. 

“I think the influence of the older girls, such as my sister. Really helped me and all my friends get involved. 

Proctor’s journey soon took her beyond Stirling County, leading to a big move. 

“Moving from a Scottish team to the English Premiership was a big jump. The training standards are higher, and you have to keep proving yourself. 

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“People don’t know who you are, so you’ve got to turn up, and put in the work. I wouldn’t change any part of it; it’s all part of the process.”

Scottish roots and the influence of the ‘Wolf Pack’

Proctor’s beginnings at Stirling County left an imprint that has continued to shape her on and off the field. 

“My roots have shaped me massively. I’ve always been a Stirling County girl from the moment I started at five years old – it was like a family, and the support I had was immense. 

“My dad was one of my coaches, and my mum helped manage the girls’ section.

 

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“The emblem on the Stirling County jersey was a wolf – my coach always used to refer to us as the ‘Wolf Pack’ because our coach emphasised teamwork and family, – that sense of unity has stuck with me.”

In Scotland, Proctor learned resilience and leadership, but her journey also brought challenges. 

“Playing in Scotland taught me leadership and resilience, but it also led me to put a lot of pressure on myself. 

“As I grew in the game, I learned how crucial it was to find balance. Rugby isn’t just about the game; it’s also about managing stress, finding outlets, and remembering why I play—to enjoy it.”

Balancing life in the RAF and elite rugby, where routine is everything

Proctor’s journey took a unique turn when she joined the RAF, adding another layer of responsibility to her life as an elite athlete. 

“My commitments have taught me further teamwork skills, a lot about routine, and looking at the value in everyone’s individual strengths. 

“I rely on my RAF bosses and line manager to support my rugby commitments, but the discipline comes from setting a daily routine and sticking to it. 

“In the RAF, we’re taught to value each person’s strengths, whether it’s physical skill, leadership, or something else, and to use those strengths for the team. It’s the same in rugby—you learn to play to each other’s strengths.

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For Proctor, balancing these two worlds has taught her important lessons.

“The discipline I’ve gained from the military has been invaluable. I’d put my body on the line for my teammates just like I would for my RAF colleagues.”

Honouring service on Remembrance Sunday

This year’s Remembrance Sunday holds a special place in Proctor’s heart. She walked out in her RAF uniform and laid a wreath to honour the fallen—a moment that brings together her dual roles in a powerful way.

“Remembrance means to me, acknowledging people in the process. Those we’ve gained and lost throughout the years. 

“No military person decides to sign up to serve with the preemptive thought that something could happen to them or their mates. 

 

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“They sign up to help people and to do the job as well as every other aspect of the military – from frontline assets and personnel who work behind the scenes, they all help to provide a better tomorrow.”

Reflecting on Remembrance Sunday this year, Proctor shared her gratitude for the opportunity. 

“For me, it’s about recognising the broader purpose behind our roles, both in the military and in rugby.”

Elite sevens and the dream of a Scotland cap

As a player, Proctor has worn many jerseys. Her experience in Elite 7s rugby has given her a unique skill set for the 15s game. 

“Playing sevens has made me quicker in reacting to unplanned ballplay, especially at turnovers. In sevens, it’s all about making quick, decisive moves—whether it’s an offload, a tackle, or a rock-solid defensive line.

“I’d say it’s given me more agility and awareness, which are essential in the 15s game.

“Having gone through military training, physically it’s definitely made me more robust. It’s giving me a deeper understanding of the importance of keeping fit and delivering to high standards.

“It’s not just going to your rugby session, it’s keeping yourself physically and mentally robust – doing your prehab, so you don’t have to go through rehabilitation. 

“Just knowing that you’re putting others’ needs first, is quite a powerful mindset to have, especially to transfer onto the rugby pitch – you’re going to put your body on the line for these girls until the final whistle.”

Beyond her current commitments, Proctor has set her sights on a higher goal: international play.

“I’m focused on constantly improving my game, keeping hands on the ball, and maintaining high standards in both 15s and sevens. 

“I’m also planning to head up to Scotland and play in the Celtic Challenge this season, which is a great chance for more game time and for the coaches to see me. 

“Although I’m eligible to play for Ireland or England, representing Scotland at a senior level would mean everything after all my time with the Scottish age groups.

“My goal is to keep playing rugby at a high level, and if that opportunity comes, I’ll be ready to take it.”

Lessons from each club

Proctor’s journey has taken her from Stirling County to Leicester and now to Harlequins, and each club has taught her valuable lessons.

“Going from club to club, you definitely need to fit the way they want to play. At Stirling County, I developed evasive skills and a strong fend that became my signature.

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“At Leicester, I learned defensive positioning, especially when isolated on the pitch. 

“Harlequins have taught me the importance of leveraging my teammates’ skills—it’s drilled into us that everyone has a role, which aligns so well with my military training. The professional approach here at Harlequins has been a great fit for me.”

A resilient spirit

When asked to sum up her rugby journey in one word, Proctor’s answer was immediate: ‘Resilience’.

“From the early days pushing through the boys’ age groups, to striving for call-ups in Scotland squads, to balancing rugby with the military—it’s always been about determination and not letting setbacks stop me.

“It’s been a journey filled with family, opportunity, and fun, but resilience really defines it all.”

Proctor’s story is one of grit and passion, forged from her Scottish roots and strengthened through military discipline.

With each step—from Stirling County to Harlequins and possibly a Scotland cap—she has embraced every challenge, staying true to her values of teamwork, service, and resilience. 

As she honoured her RAF commitment on Remembrance Sunday, Proctor is not just playing for herself; she’s playing for everyone who has supported her journey so far and for everyone who has come before her.

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J
JW 3 hours ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Ok, managed to read the full article..

... New Zealand’s has only 14 and the professional season is all over within four months. In France, club governance is the responsibility of an independent organisation [the Ligue Nationale de Rugby or LNR] which is entirely separate from the host union [the Fédération Française de Rugby or FFR]. Down south New Zealand Rugby runs the provincial and the national game.

That is the National Provincial Championship, a competition of 14 representative union based teams run through the SH international window and only semi professional (paid only during it's running). It is run by NZR and goes for two and a half months.


Super Rugby is a competition involving 12 fully professional teams, of which 5 are of New Zealand eligibility, and another joint administered team of Pacific Island eligibility, with NZR involvement. It was a 18 week competition this year, so involved (randomly chosen I believe) extra return fixtures (2 or 3 home and away derbys), and is run by Super Rugby Pacific's own independent Board (or organisation). The teams may or may not be independently run and owned (note, this does not necessarily mean what you think of as 'privately owned').


LNR was setup by FFR and the French Government to administer the professional game in France. In New Zealand, the Players Association and Super Rugby franchises agreed last month to not setup their own governance structure for professional rugby and re-aligned themselves with New Zealand Rugby. They had been proposing to do something like the English model, I'm not sure how closely that would have been aligned to the French system but it did not sound like it would have French union executive representation on it like the LNR does.

In the shaky isles the professional pyramid tapers to a point with the almighty All Blacks. In France the feeling for country is no more important than the sense of fierce local identity spawned at myriad clubs concentrated in the southwest. Progress is achieved by a nonchalant shrug and the wide sweep of nuanced negotiation, rather than driven from the top by a single intense focus.

Yes, it is pretty much a 'representative' selection system at every level, but these union's are having to fight for their existence against the regime that is NZR, and are currently going through their own battle, just as France has recently as I understand it. A single focus, ala the French game, might not be the best outcome for rugby as a whole.


For pure theatre, it is a wonderful article so far. I prefer 'Ntamack New Zealand 2022' though.

The young Crusader still struggles to solve the puzzle posed by the shorter, more compact tight-heads at this level but he had no problem at all with Colombe.

It was interesting to listen to Manny during an interview on Maul or Nothing, he citied that after a bit of banter with the All Black's he no longer wanted one of their jersey's after the game. One of those talks was an eye to eye chat with Tamaiti Williams, there appear to be nothing between the lock and prop, just a lot of give and take. I thought TW angled in and caused Taylor to pop a few times, and that NZ were lucky to be rewarded.

f you have a forward of 6ft 8ins and 145kg, and he is not at all disturbed by a dysfunctional set-piece, you are in business.

He talked about the clarity of the leadership that helped alleviate any need for anxiety at the predicaments unfolding before him. The same cannot be said for New Zealand when they had 5 minutes left to retrieve a match winning penalty, I don't believe. Did the team in black have much of a plan at any point in the game? I don't really call an autonomous 10 vehicle they had as innovative. I think Razor needs to go back to the dealer and get a new game driver on that one.

Vaa’i is no match for his power on the ground. Even in reverse, Meafou is like a tractor motoring backwards in low gear, trampling all in its path.

Vaa'i actually stops him in his tracks. He gets what could have been a dubious 'tackle' on him?

A high-level offence will often try to identify and exploit big forwards who can be slower to reload, and therefore vulnerable to two quick plays run at them consecutively.

Yes he was just standing on his haunches wasn't he? He mentioned that in the interview, saying that not only did you just get up and back into the line to find the opposition was already set and running at you they also hit harder than anything he'd experienced in the Top 14. He was referring to New Zealands ultra-physical, burst-based Super style of course, which he was more than a bit surprised about. I don't blame him for being caught out.


He still sent the obstruction back to the repair yard though!

What wouldn’t the New Zealand rugby public give to see the likes of Mauvaka and Meafou up front..

Common now Nick, don't go there! Meafou showed his Toulouse shirt and promptly got his citizenship, New Zealand can't have him, surely?!?


As I have said before with these subjects, really enjoy your enthusiasm for their contribution on the field and I'd love to see more of their shapes running out for Vern Cotter and the like styled teams.

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