10:49am Wednesday 19th December 2007
By Stuart Amos
Wallington-based Davinia Monteiro has given herself six years to win a full England cap after being picked for the national U20s squad in 2007.
The 19-year-old Bath University student has been clocking up more than 200 miles a week to train and play for London Wasps since she started training with the Acton-based club in 2005.
She made her first team debut only last season after being persuaded to switch from flanker to hooker and has not looked back since.
And ambitious Monteiro, who puts her success down to playing alongside the internationals of the Women's Premiership, does not want to hang around.
"I really do want to play for England it is my main aim," she said.
"It is my goal to make it and I'd like to do it before I am 25.
"I like to set my goals too high for myself and see how it goes. It seems to have worked so far.
"A coach from the England talent squad thought I had the right attributes to play hooker so I thought I'd give it a go.
"Wasps is a great club and playing with other internationals in the front row has really helped, but I still have a long way to go."
Monteiro's first target is a space in the U20s team to face Wales in February and has put on hold her interests in Judo and Netball to make sure she is not distracted.
"I enjoy all sports but it is all about rugby now because I don't want to get injured for that," she added.
"I have worked for the last four years to get this far and while I've represented my county at judo and netball, I have stopped that now."
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