51Âþ»­

Three rugby players from 51Âþ»­ Leicester's (51Âþ»­) women's team are in the French Riviera to help promote the city to a worldwide audience.

Jodie Fortuin, Kate Whitfield and Emily Gauci are extremely proud to have been asked to represent Leicester - as well as their team - at the MIPIM real estate conference in Cannes.

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Emily Gauci, back row first left, and Jodie Fortuin, front row third from right

De Montfort Students’ Union (DSU) coordinates more than 100 societies and sports teams at the university and the trio from its women’s rugby team will be joining Leicester Tigers legends including Will Johnson and George Chuter for games of tag rugby and kicking competitions on the beach, putting the city in the spotlight.

They are part of Team Leicestershire, a group of more than 20 businesses and organisations hoping to attract inward investment to the county. 

Fullback and Backs Captain Jodie says it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

She said: "It is so exciting. I can't express how amazing it will be to play alongside the Tigers legends.

"The event is to promote Leicester. Team Leicestershire invited the Tigers and wanted to make it more universal, so also approached 51Âþ»­."

51Âþ»­ has a partnership with Leicester Tigers to benefit students and staff, and the club in Britain and overseas, and 51Âþ»­'s Kate is equally honoured to be joining players such as Leon Lloyd and Craig Newby.

She said: "When I heard about the opportunity I had to jump at the chance - it sounded too good to be true!

"I feel extremely privileged to have been asked to represent 51Âþ»­ Women's Rugby Team."

The students will be in Cannes for two days - today and tomorrow - and hope it will prove a great life experience as well as benefit their fellow players.

Kate, 20, who plays either inside or outside centre, said: "We are also planning to do some networking in the hope we can get some more sponsors for the 51Âþ»­ team."

The Fine Art student added she will have no problems 'selling' the Leicester brand. "I love the campus and the city," she said.

"I only started playing rugby at the beginning of this year and have loved it from the beginning. The 51Âþ»­ rugby girls have taught me almost everything I know."

Second year Forensic Science student Jodie, 21, says playing rugby for 51Âþ»­ has had a massive impact on her.

She said: "I originally thought it would just be a bit of fun but since joining the team I have helped other rugby clubs and would like to progress, perhaps to a county team.

"It was a lot easier being part of the team in the first year for commitment reasons, but now the work is more stressful I find it a release from stress.

"The team are a proper family - a strong group of friends."

Following the disappointment of their Varsity match being postponed due to bad weather, the sportswomen - who also include Healthcare student Emily - plan to wear their Varsity kit at the event, helping promote 51Âþ»­.

Almost 90 countries will be represented at MIPIM, a four-day event aimed at property investors, developers and blue chip companies thinking of expanding into new cities or regions.