Heather Fell, Olympic silver medallist, writes about her life in the media and sports world.

KICK-OFF! The rugby World Cup has begun at last. What an honour it is for the UK to be hosting such a significant sporting event. I do hope we can use this to our advantage on more than one level.

This is a wonderful opportunity to spread the word and increase participation. Rugby has always been overshadowed by the more popular sport of football, yet in my eyes it brings so many more desirable values to those who play or support it.

For the England team this is their chance to maximise the home advantage, it worked for our Olympians three years ago, let’s hope it can work for our rugby players too.

I have failed in the efficient and logical planning of my diary. The rugby World Cup arrived to the UK and I left. The timing could not have been any worse if I had tried. The Australian team checked into the city of Bath just as I left it, then the Georgian team arrived in Exeter the same week I headed back out to Eastern Europe. Yes. I am currently in Georgia commentating on a summer beach sport. I am enjoying the weather but missing the excitement that comes with any World Cup, let alone a sport I love that is hosted by my home country. Thankfully and probably due to the nation of Georgia competing, and winning their opening match, I did manage to find a bar showing the England game. My friend and I were the only viewers in this open air bar, the atmosphere could not have been further from that found at home.

Nonetheless putting up with the time difference to support our team was worth it. I now feel a slight allegiance to the Georgian team and after seeing some incredibly shocking results from some of the favourites in the opening matches, who knows how far they can go.