England's Katy Mclean

She is the second current England Women’s player to be honoured after flanker Maggie Alphonsi, who received an MBE in 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The honour arrived in an unusual fashion, though. The letter asking whether Mclean wished to accept the award was sent to the former ground of her club side Darlington Mowden Park Sharks.

Marked ‘On Her Majesty’s Service’, it triggered concerns it might be a court order until it was successfully redirected.

“I’m absolutely shocked to receive an MBE and it’s not something I ever expected I’d get,” said Mclean.

“I’ve had an amazing rugby career but you don’t ever think of anything like this ever happening to you.

“It’s a huge honour and it’s for all the people who have helped me and for all those who’ve worked so hard to bring the women’s game forward. They deserve a massive thank you.”

Mclean watched dad David in action for Westoe, then played there until the age of 12 returning to the game as an 18 year-old and progressed through England’s age group sides and played for Darlington Mowden Park.

Since 2010 she has combined club and international rugby with teaching Reception age children at Bexhill Academy in Sunderland and will take time off in 2014 to prepare for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in France next August.

She said: “The school’s been really supportive and I owe a great deal to Katrina Smith the other Reception teacher. I couldn’t do what I do without their support.”

Career highlights since Mclean made her debut  in 2007 include playing in the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup final, beating New Zealand at Twickenham and facing the Black Ferns at Eden Park in Auckland this summer.

England meet for a training camp early in the New Year at Loughborough University to prepare for the Six Nations which begins against France in Grenoble on February 1.

“The start of a World Cup year is a big focus now,” said Mclean. “England are back and January to August is about building for that.”